Paige Bueckers announces NIL deal with Bose, her first since ACL injury

Paige Bueckers won’t be playing basketball for a little while, but that doesn’t mean she’s not still very much relevant in the college game.

The UConn star has landed a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal with Bose, and she announced the partnership on Instagram on Monday.

“I am excited to officially join the Bose family,” Bueckers wrote. “You already know the soundtrack to my comeback is going to be epic and louder than ever thanks to Bose.”

The deal with Bose is the first Bueckers has announced since her ACL injury in August. Prior to that, she became the first college athlete to sign with Gatorade, and has deals with Crocs, StockX and the Cash App, among others.

The injury will cause Bueckers to miss the entire 2022-23 season, but she told reporters she plans to return for 2023-24.

“I’m not leaving. That is not any question,” she said on Sept. 1. “I’m not thinking too far ahead, but I will be playing college basketball again.”

Though this is her junior year, Bueckers will still have three years of eligibility remaining following this season due to the NCAA’s COVID year exemption and her injury redshirt season. She may currently stand to earn more money through NIL deals than she would by going pro, though she will be eligible for the WNBA draft beginning in 2023.

UConn women’s basketball begins practice on Oct. 14, with First Night festivities.