For those who have watched South Carolina basketball star freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley, it sometimes feels as if the dynamic scoring guard has wings with how quickly she moves through the open floor and how high she can jump at the blink of an eye.
It only makes sense then that Fulwiley became the first college athlete to sign an NIL deal with Red Bull. The company, whose slogan is "It gives you wings," inked Fulwiley to their first-ever athletic deal for a non-professional, and they made a strong choice. In addition to being a brand ambassador for basketball, Fulwiley will have the chance to work in Red Bull's divisions for fashion, music, and extreme sports and partner with the brand in community outreach events.
Fulwiley is a one-of-a-kind talent on the floor, combining elite ball handling abilities with supreme quickness and rare aggressiveness. Those traits make her an unstoppable force in transition, and her seemingly endless shooting range makes her a scoring threat from just about anywhere on her side of the court.
Just over a week ago, Fulwiley was named the first freshman SEC Tournament MVP since Candance Parker, and with three more collegiate years in front of her, South Carolina basketball fans can only imagine what heights she will reach.
She has a good head on her shoulders, as well. Playing on a loaded team like the Gamecocks has forced Fulwiley into a smaller role than many stars would be happy with playing, but the Columbia native said after winning the SEC Tournament that her basketball focus is "all about rings" and whatever the team needs, not personal accolades.
Signing with Red Bull is not the first NIL history made by MiLaysia Fulwiley. Less than a week ago, Fulwiley became the first college player signed to the Curry Brand at Under Armour, and she will partner with Steph Curry and the Under Armour team in designing a signature shoe.
For now, though, Fulwiley and her team are focused on getting a ring. The Gamecocks are 6 victories away from the program's third national championship, and reaching that milestone would also mean that USC becomes the 10th undefeated team in women's college basketball history, joiniing UConn (6x), Tennessee, Texas, and Baylor.
On Friday, South Carolina basketball will take on the winner of Sacred Heart-Presbyterian (who play on Wednesday). The game will be broadcast on ESPN at 2:00 PM EST.