Syracuse Women's Basketball Seeks NIL Boost from Businesses, Alumni

GM Mykala Walker calls for third-party NIL deals to help program sustain success

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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Syracuse women's basketball is having a strong 2025-26 season, but head coach Felisha Legette-Jack and general manager Mykala Walker are calling on businesses and wealthy alumni to provide financial assistance through third-party name, image and likeness (NIL) deals. Walker says Syracuse has a large alumni base across the country that could help the program compete with rivals that already have robust NIL collectives in place.

Why it matters

The rapidly changing landscape of college sports, with schools now able to pay athletes directly and facilitate third-party NIL deals, has put pressure on programs like Syracuse women's basketball to find new revenue streams to retain and attract top talent. Without a strong third-party NIL collective, Syracuse risks falling behind competitors that have already built up these financial support systems.

The details

Syracuse women's basketball is 21-5 overall and 11-4 in the ACC this season, putting them in position to make the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack, a former All-American at Syracuse, has called on millionaires and billionaires to provide financial assistance to the program. In an interview, GM Mykala Walker echoed Legette-Jack's sentiments, saying Syracuse needs to "get some engagement from businesses and communities across the nation" to offer third-party NIL opportunities, as "some of the teams that we would have to compete with, they really have a huge head start in that space." Walker added that third-party NIL deals are "a huge part of how we're going to be able to construct the rosters going forward."

  • Syracuse women's basketball is having a special 2025-26 season.
  • In February 2025, SU Athletics announced a $50 million fundraising campaign to aid with retaining and attracting top athletes.
  • Last fall, the Orange United collective closed up shop.

The players

Felisha Legette-Jack

Head coach of the Syracuse women's basketball team, a former All-American at Syracuse and an excellent recruiter.

Mykala Walker

General manager of the Syracuse women's basketball team.

Syracuse Athletics

The athletic department of Syracuse University, which has said it is sharing the maximum $20.5 million in revenue-sharing with athletes during the 2025-26 season.

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What they’re saying

“We've got to get some engagement from businesses and communities across the nation. Syracuse is one of the places that has some of the best and biggest alumni all over the country.”

— Mykala Walker, General Manager, Syracuse Women's Basketball (ESPN Radio Syracuse)

“It's probably never going to be enough, and it's also a huge part of how we're going to be able to construct the rosters going forward.”

— Mykala Walker, General Manager, Syracuse Women's Basketball (ESPN Radio Syracuse)

What’s next

Syracuse women's basketball is expected to receive an NCAA Tournament bid this March, and the team has recently hosted top recruits on campus visits as they look to build on their success.

The takeaway

Syracuse women's basketball is thriving on the court, but the program's long-term competitiveness will depend on its ability to secure third-party NIL deals and other financial support from businesses, wealthy alumni, and commercial collectives to supplement the university's direct revenue-sharing with athletes.