This episode dives deep into the changing economics of sports and how athletes are rewriting the rules of compensation.

🔥 NIL Spotlight: NiJaree Canady (Texas Tech Softball)

• First Texas Tech athlete to land a million-dollar NIL deal with the Matador Club (initial $1.05M in 2024, renewed at $1.2M in 2025).
• Deal breakdown includes $1,000,000 payment, $50K living stipend, and $24 honoring her jersey number.
• Canady also signed a Venmo endorsement through a Big 12 partnership.
• Her deals mark a historic moment for softball and redefine what’s possible for women athletes.

💰 Paige Bueckers & Unrivaled Basketball

• Signed a 3-year contract with Unrivaled that outpaces her potential WNBA rookie earnings.
• Average Unrivaled salaries reached $222K with equity opportunities — now negotiable case by case.
• With a $340M valuation and rapid expansion, Unrivaled’s short-season model is shaking up player leverage and compensation models.

🔗 Blockchain & Tokenization in Athlete Contracts

• Smart contracts enable automatic, transparent payments tied to performance (e.g., branded posts triggering instant payouts).
• Tokenization lets fans, brands, and investors buy into an athlete’s future earnings.
• Real-world examples: Polkadot decentralized sponsorships, ChainOn volleyball contracts, and Socios fan tokens.
• Benefits: transparency, speed, fractional access, deeper fan engagement.
• Risks: regulation, volatility, legal complexity — but the potential is massive.

💡 Big Picture Takeaways

• Athletes now have more leverage and options than ever before.
• Compensation is moving beyond salary into equity, ownership, and tokenization.
• Competing leagues and new technologies are reshaping the business of sports.
• Generational wealth isn’t just built on the field anymore — it’s also in technology and intellectual capital.

If you’re interested in the future of sports, money, and innovation, this conversation is packed with insights you can’t miss.

In this week’s IMC Recap, we cover some of the biggest stories shaping sports, finance, and media. From McNeese State student manager Amir “Aura” Khan turning a viral moment into major NIL deals, to the College Sports Commission’s $80M NIL approvals — and the $40M correction that followed. We also break down the Stablecoin Genius Act and its potential to transform payments, before unpacking Paramount’s bold $1.1B-per-year move to secure UFC media rights and what it means for streaming, branding, and fan engagement.

This episode connects the dots between athlete branding, financial innovation, and media strategy — all through the lens of integrated marketing and communications.

In this episode of The Planning Podcast, we break down one of the most fascinating details from Shedeur Sanders’ rookie contract in the NFL—the Prime Equity clause that gives him a percentage of merchandise and NIL-related revenue.

This isn’t just about football—it’s about the power of negotiation, understanding your contract, and knowing your value. From Magic Johnson’s 25-year deal, to Michael Jordan’s Nike sneaker empire, to Patrick Mahomes’ equity-driven contract, history shows us that great contracts can literally change the game.

What you’ll learn in this video:

The unique “Prime Equity” clause in Shedeur Sanders’ contract

How NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) has shifted the way athletes approach business.

Historical examples of groundbreaking contracts in sports (NBA, NFL, endorsements)

Why negotiation isn’t greed—it’s alignment

How everyday professionals (not just athletes) can apply these lessons in their own careers

This conversation is for athletes, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to better understand the importance of contracts, negotiation, and financial literacy.

Subscribe to The Planning Podcast for more insights on money, mindset, and strategies to win on and off the field.

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