Livvy Dunne Talks 'Life-Changing' NIL Rules, Says It's 'Great' for Female Athletes

The focus on the shifting landscape of college sports after NIL deals were made legal is often on high-profile sports like football and basketball, and how they've changed recruiting, the transfer portal, etc.

But gymnast and Instagram influencer Livvy Dunne offered a different perspective on the positive impact of NIL deals while speaking with GQ's Matthew Roberson, breaking down one of the misconceptions she sees the most:

"Probably that it's ruining college athletics. Not for me and not for other women that don't have professional leagues! Most women's sports don't have professional leagues, so it's really important for girls to capitalize on their NIL while they're still in college.

"Usually it's like an old man talking about football when they're complaining about this, but I think it's great for women, and I think that everyone deserves their rights to their name, image, and likeness. It's theirs! Put yourself in a student athlete's shoes, then you would understand. And it is life-changing. My life is so different now.

Dunne, a 2024 national champion on the LSU gymnastics team, has an estimated net worth at $9.5 million due to NIL deals and over 13 million combined followers on social media platforms TikTok and Instagram.

Her NIL experience is an outlier, of course, but for college athletes who may not have an avenue for going professional in their particular sport, the opportunity to make money on their talents while they can is a positive outcome of the NIL era.