UCLA Athletics Partners with Article 41 to Launch Groundbreaking NIL Initiative
August 19, 2025 | Bruin Athletics
The UCLA Athletics Department has positioned itself at the forefront of the next evolution of collegiate athletics, entering into a landmark partnership with Name, Image & License (NIL) agency Article 41 to help UCLA student-athletes build strong personal brands through social media and capitalize on commercial NIL opportunities.
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Article 41, the groundbreaking NIL agency featured in the The New York Times for its athlete-first approach and creator-led strategies, brings a first-of-its-kind approach to UCLA's campus, combining strategic social media development with comprehensive NIL deal facilitation. The agency will work directly with UCLA's student-athletes and coaches to elevate their digital presence and personal brands, then leverage that enhanced visibility to secure lucrative commercial partnerships. This innovative model ensures that athletes across all sports โ from football and basketball to Olympic sports and women's programs โ have equal access to meaningful NIL opportunities that reflect both their talent and influence.
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"After vetting dozens of potential partners, we selected Article 41 for their visionary approach and proven execution capabilities," said Erin Adkins, UCLA Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director, NIL Strategy & Initiatives. "They have a deep understanding of the commercial NIL landscape and a commitment to authentic storytelling. This aligns perfectly with our mission to highlight the outstanding work ethic and unique personalities of our student-athletes, while positioning UCLA to lead the next phase of NIL's evolution. With this partnership, our fans will receive unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the daily lives of our Bruins while creating substantial economic opportunities for our student-athletes both now and in the future."
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"UCLA's strong global brand combined with its location in the heart of Los Angeles makes it uniquely positioned to be a hub of influence, creativity and commercial opportunity for student-athletes," said Vickie Segar, Co-Founder of Article 41.ย "With the support of UCLA's leadership, who has a uniquely sophisticated view of the future of college sports and its vast potential in the new media ecosystem, we couldn't be more excited to help Bruin student-athletes and coaches grow their reach and help brands tap into an unparalleled network of influential ambassadors on campus."
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As part of this partnership, Article 41 will establish a dedicated on-campus presence, with multiple staff members working directly with UCLA Athletics to build their brands and manage the entire commercial NIL deal flow, from contracting to creative and content. This high-touch approach delivers personalized attention and executional support to UCLA's elite athletes while offering brands a frictionless, turnkey solution to access high-quality, scaled marketing campaigns across UCLA's nearly 700 student-athletes.
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Article 41, the groundbreaking NIL agency featured in the The New York Times for its athlete-first approach and creator-led strategies, brings a first-of-its-kind approach to UCLA's campus, combining strategic social media development with comprehensive NIL deal facilitation. The agency will work directly with UCLA's student-athletes and coaches to elevate their digital presence and personal brands, then leverage that enhanced visibility to secure lucrative commercial partnerships. This innovative model ensures that athletes across all sports โ from football and basketball to Olympic sports and women's programs โ have equal access to meaningful NIL opportunities that reflect both their talent and influence.
ย
"After vetting dozens of potential partners, we selected Article 41 for their visionary approach and proven execution capabilities," said Erin Adkins, UCLA Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director, NIL Strategy & Initiatives. "They have a deep understanding of the commercial NIL landscape and a commitment to authentic storytelling. This aligns perfectly with our mission to highlight the outstanding work ethic and unique personalities of our student-athletes, while positioning UCLA to lead the next phase of NIL's evolution. With this partnership, our fans will receive unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the daily lives of our Bruins while creating substantial economic opportunities for our student-athletes both now and in the future."
ย
"UCLA's strong global brand combined with its location in the heart of Los Angeles makes it uniquely positioned to be a hub of influence, creativity and commercial opportunity for student-athletes," said Vickie Segar, Co-Founder of Article 41.ย "With the support of UCLA's leadership, who has a uniquely sophisticated view of the future of college sports and its vast potential in the new media ecosystem, we couldn't be more excited to help Bruin student-athletes and coaches grow their reach and help brands tap into an unparalleled network of influential ambassadors on campus."
ย
As part of this partnership, Article 41 will establish a dedicated on-campus presence, with multiple staff members working directly with UCLA Athletics to build their brands and manage the entire commercial NIL deal flow, from contracting to creative and content. This high-touch approach delivers personalized attention and executional support to UCLA's elite athletes while offering brands a frictionless, turnkey solution to access high-quality, scaled marketing campaigns across UCLA's nearly 700 student-athletes.
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