Women’s college track and field athletes are steadily increasing their NIL earnings, with top NCAA and Olympic-level competitors now reaching six-figure valuations. As the 2028 Summer Olympics approach, elite performers with global exposure are positioned for even greater NIL growth.
They don’t receive the multi-million-dollar NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) deals seen in football or men’s basketball. But women’s track and field athletes have been steadily gaining ground as NIL continues to evolve and mature.
In recent years, former Alabama pole vaulter Riley White and former Vanderbilt and Oregon jumper Gianna Bullock reached NIL valuations exceeding $200,000, while many other top women surpassed the $100,000 mark. That six-figure club continues to grow as more NCAA champions and Olympic athletes enter the NIL marketplace.
Even lesser-known athletes are benefiting. Average NCAA women’s track and field athletes are now earning an estimated $1,000–$10,000 annually through a combination of collectives, brand deals, social media partnerships, and appearances.
Here’s a look at the top NCAA women’s track and field stars in 2026—and why their NIL value is rising.
JaMeesia Ford — Sprints, South Carolina
Ford’s NIL portfolio could surge dramatically over the next few years. She is widely viewed as a likely member of the U.S. team for the 2028 Olympics, which would bring significant international exposure.
Already a household name in collegiate track, Ford won the 2025 NCAA outdoor championship in the 200 meters and earned first-team All-America honors. In 2024, she captured NCAA indoor titles in both the 200 meters and the 4×400 relay. The six-time All-American signed a major NIL deal with HOKA last spring, promoting footwear and apparel.
Juliette Whittaker — Middle Distance, Stanford
At 23, Whittaker is one of the biggest names in women’s collegiate track. She is a two-time NCAA champion in the 800 meters and represented the United States at the 2024 Olympics, with a potential return in 2028.
Her NIL situation is among the most unique in college sports. Whittaker has a lucrative deal with On, the Swiss footwear and apparel brand, but cannot wear On gear in competition because Stanford is a Nike-sponsored school. Instead, she promotes On through social media and select brand events, demonstrating how NIL flexibility works within sponsorship constraints.
Amanda Moll and Hanna Moll — Pole Vault, Washington
The Moll twins are one of the most compelling stories in college athletics, making them highly attractive NIL partners. They have multiple deals, including a joint partnership with Adidas as part of the brand’s EVO SL campaign.
Amanda won the 2025 NCAA indoor pole vault championship and holds the NCAA record. Hanna claimed the 2025 NCAA outdoor pole vault title. Together, their combined success and shared narrative significantly boost their NIL appeal.
Doris Lemngole — Distance, Alabama
Already one of the most accomplished distance runners in NCAA history, Lemngole has dominated across disciplines. A native of Kenya, she won NCAA titles in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and cross country in 2024, then repeated both wins in 2025 while also capturing the indoor 5,000-meter title.
Lemngole won the 2025 Bowerman Award as the nation’s top women’s track and field athlete and enters 2026 as the favorite to repeat. She already holds a lucrative NIL deal with On, reinforcing how elite performance accelerates NIL value.
Jane Hedengren — Distance, BYU
At just 19, Hedengren combines rare athletic upside with significant NIL potential. In high school, she broke nine Utah state records. As a BYU freshman during the 2025 indoor season, she set an NCAA record in the 5,000 meters. In 2026, she has already posted the second-fastest 3,000-meter time in NCAA history.
Hedengren signed a lucrative NIL deal with Nike as part of its “next generation” campaign and appears positioned to attract additional partnerships as her Olympic trajectory toward 2028 continues.
Sanu Jallow-Lockhart — Middle Distance, Arkansas
Jallow-Lockhart represented Gambia in the 800 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics and is a strong candidate to return for Los Angeles in 2028. After moving from Gambia to Charlotte, North Carolina at age nine, she developed into one of the NCAA’s most versatile middle-distance runners.
Recently named to the Bowerman watch list, she holds collegiate records in the 600 meters and 800 meters and has added the mile, broadening both her competitive range and NIL appeal.
Alexina Johansson — Throws, Nebraska
One of the top shot putters in collegiate history, Johansson set the NCAA record at 19.54 meters in 2023 and broke it again with a 19.72-meter throw in December 2025. She won the NCAA outdoor title in 2023 and the indoor championship in 2025.
Johansson placed 10th at the 2024 Olympics and is widely expected to compete again in 2028, positioning her well for continued NIL growth as a premier thrower.
Pamela Kosgei — Distance, New Mexico
Kosgei continues the tradition of elite Kenyan distance runners. She finished second at the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships and set a meet record at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Her NIL visibility is enhanced by family ties. She is the younger sister of Brigid Kosgei, the 2020 Olympic silver medalist. Pamela Kosgei is a strong 2028 Olympic candidate and already holds a lucrative NIL deal with HOKA.
Wilma Nielsen — Middle Distance, Oregon
A Swedish standout, Nielsen began her career at Bradley, spent the 2024 season at Washington, and transferred to Oregon. She has won three Swedish national outdoor championships in the 800 meters and one indoor national title.
Nielsen recently elevated her NIL profile by winning the prestigious Wanamaker Mile with the second-fastest time in NCAA history, an achievement that significantly boosts international brand interest.
The NIL Outlook for Women’s Track and Field
Women’s track and field athletes are no longer on the fringes of the NIL economy. As Olympic visibility increases and brands seek authentic, global ambassadors, elite female runners, jumpers, and throwers are seeing meaningful financial opportunities.
Learn More About the NIL Landscape
Name, Image, and Likeness plays an increasing role in college sports, and understanding how it works often requires more than individual articles or news updates.
RallyFuel is a platform focused on NIL-related topics across college athletics. It brings together information about athletes, NIL activity, and the broader structure behind modern college sports, helping readers explore the topic in more depth.
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