Since a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2021, college athletes have been permitted to turn their local fame into real money by endorsing products, making paid posts on social media and even recording birthday videos for fans. NIL has exploded into a multi-million-dollar industry, providing a lucrative side hustle for some college athletes and delivering massive paydays to the biggest stars.
But international athletes, even elite performers like Orzol, are stuck on the free-market bench.