For Alabama A&M’s Vanessa Wimberly, NIL deals align with goal of empowering others

Alabama A&M freshman guard Vanessa Wimberly is making her mark in both the women’s basketball program and the broader arena of name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities for student-athletes at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

On the court, Wimberly is a starter for the Bulldogs (10-9 overall, 6-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference), who are in pursuit of the program’s first SWAC tournament championship. Off the court, she currently has NIL deals with Luster Products, a Black-owned hair company, and singer Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty, which sells loungewear, athletic wear, and lingerie.

“I always want to help represent a brand that uplifts and empowers,” Wimberly said. “I would describe my brand as a mix of love, beauty, faith, and sports. When people see me or get the chance to converse with me, I hope that they’re able to feel the love and kindness within me. I love fashion, makeup, photo shoots, and hair while also carrying the love I have for the game of basketball.”

The women’s basketball landscape is evolving, Wimberly said, with growing visibility for players.

“The support for women’s basketball is growing. You see the outfits before the game, you see who they are off the court — they own their content, videos, and fashion. I love seeing it,” she said.

Wimberly started building her social media accounts by posting more videos and creating more content toward the end of her senior year at Lake Central High School in Indiana to explore and potentially capitalize on future NIL opportunities. For NIL representation, she signed in June 2024 with WNBA agent Greg Jones II, the founder of G2 Hoops LLC sports agency.

“She has a story to tell behind her brand; it is deeper than surface level,” Jones said. “I describe her brand as storytelling, being a young Afro-Latina and expanding on her Colombian side while being an advocate and voice for Black and brown people.”

Wimberly said she needs to believe in a company for it to resonate with her followers. In evaluating which companies to work with, Jones and Wimberly said their primary goal is to choose brands that represent Wimberly’s morals and personal identity.

“A lot of the brands she works with, like hair care products and clothes, speak for the person she is. … We put an emphasis on working with Black-owned brands and bringing more attention to them,” Jones said. “It is about ‘teach one, be one’ and reaching back to help our brands get more visibility and exposure so people know they exist.”

The decision to focus on Black-owned brands reflects Wimberly’s larger goal of empowering other student-athletes. Jones said Wimberly’s story shows that building a personal brand is possible without attending a Power 4 school.

“It shows other people that you can build a brand coming from an HBCU — to build your name up and for people to see her story. They see hope within her story and her brand. It motivates them to start somewhere, build something for themselves doing something they love, and shine a light on people who feel overlooked,” he said.

While embracing NIL opportunities, Wimberly said, she is adjusting to college life and the demands of being a student-athlete.

“Alabama A&M was the best fit. … They saw potential in me and built it up. I also play well underneath the coaches,” Wimberly said. “I felt welcomed very fast and comfortable with the decision [to enroll there], even being eight hours away from home. I want to help the team win a championship, and I love our emphasis on defense and getting those stops.”

Head women’s basketball coach Dawn Thornton said Wimberly’s leadership extends beyond the game, highlighting her influence on team culture and engagement with alumni networks and the broader Alabama A&M community.

“Every room she goes into, she tells one of our names. We talk to the alumni and use the resources and leadership at the school. We are using what we have to build the brand up,” she said.

Wimberly said her teammates support each other in their NIL pursuits – as do their coaches.

“My teammates tell each other about NIL opportunities. We have group chats to send them, and our coaches even help give us opportunities outside of basketball,” she said.

Alabama A&M senior guard Amber Scott said Wimberly’s NIL success can serve as motivation for other Black female athletes.

“Being a Black woman athlete at an HBCU, NIL deals can be harder to get because we do not always get the same exposure,” Scott said. “But it is also special because we have strong support from our community.

“I balance sports and my brand by showing who I am off the court, too, like my style, goals, and personality. NIL can help bring more attention to Black women athletes and show our talent and hard work. I see Vanessa inspiring future women athletes at HBCUs by showing strong leadership, confidence, and dedication.”

Reporter Mia Berry contributed to this article.

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