Roy, a mobile application designed to support college athletes' Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, has announced a strategic partnership with Olympic Silver Medalist Kennedy Blades to expand financial support for female athletes, with a particular emphasis on women's wrestling.
The collaboration comes at a pivotal moment for women's collegiate athletics, especially following the University of Iowa's historic launch of the first Power Five women's wrestling program. Through this partnership, Blades aims to not only secure NIL opportunities for herself but also create pathways for her teammates and other female wrestlers to access critical funding.
A key feature of the partnership is Roy's innovative matching program, where the platform will match fan contributions up to $100 for Iowa women's athletes during February and March. This approach provides a direct, transparent mechanism for fans to support athletes, ensuring that every dollar contributed goes entirely to the selected athlete.
Roy's platform differentiates itself by offering a compliant, fan-driven marketplace specifically designed for college athletes. Unlike traditional fundraising models, the app provides additional protections such as returning funds to fans if an athlete transfers, enhancing transparency and trust.
The partnership highlights the ongoing challenges female athletes face in securing NIL support, particularly those in non-revenue sports. By creating a more inclusive funding landscape, Roy and Blades are working to address systemic inequities in collegiate athletics and provide meaningful financial opportunities for emerging female athletes.
