Inside March Madness: The Top Players and Social Media Buzz from NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Four Showdowns
The intersection of sports, social media, and sponsorship has taken center stage during the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments this year, offering a captivating glimpse into the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics.
From thrilling matchups on the court to innovative name, image, and likeness (NIL) activations off the court, join us as we explore the value of top athletes and Final Four teams that will be competing for the National Championship.
Top Players in NCAA Basketball
Big-time personalities are leading the way for college basketball! The value that these players are bringing into the game is tremendous, and the women are leading the way. Caitlin Clark’s average post value on Instagram over the past 30 days is $231,500 and Paige Bueckers’ is $81,600! Clark’s Instagram following has skyrocketed during the past 30 days, increasing 28.4%. Take a look at the top player from each team in the women’s Final Four ranked by Instagram followers.
While Purdue’s Zach Edey is a name college basketball fans have known for years, a new name is gaining traction at a rapid pace. DJ Burns of NC State is taking over men’s college basketball. Not only has Burns led his 11-seed team to the Final Four, but he has also grown his social media channels to 236,400 followers! Below is the top player from each team in the men’s Final Four ranked by Instagram followers.
March Madness NIL Deals
These collegiate athletes are starting to get compensated for their star-power. Many brands are offering NIL deals to athletes like Caitlin Clark (including State Farm and Nike) and Paige Bueckers (including Nike and Bose) because they are wildly popular athletes and marketable with passionate fanbase, including young women. Brands are also signing quick deals with emerging stars during the tournament like NC State’s big man, DJ Burns. Check out a couple of the big time sponsorships that each has participated in recently.
Women’s Final Four – Team Social Rankings
Again, the women’s teams are putting themselves ON THE MAP! Led by star players full of swag and skill, the Final Four teams have totaled 7.4 million engagements during the 2024 NCAA tournament! In terms of total engagement/followers, Iowa is blowing by every standard in the book. Over the course of the tournament, the Hawkeyes have a total engagement to followers rate of 945%. This means that they are reaching and engaging a large amount of new fans outside their team’s followers. In the Final Four, the Iowa Hawkeyes will take on the UConn Huskies in a heavyweight matchup, while the NC State Wolfpack will face the South Carolina Gamecocks. Check out the breakdown for each team’s total engagement on social throughout March Madness.
Men’s Final Four – Team Social Rankings
UConn is looking to defend their 2023 National Championship as they take on a high-powered Alabama offense in the Final Four. Purdue and NC State will have a battle of the big man with Zach Edey and DJ Burns going at it for a chance to play in the National Championship. While UConn comes in at #1 in our rankings, NC State has to be the most impressive team on social media. Over the course of the tournament, the Wolfpack have a total engagement to followers rate of 726%! They are certainly making the most of their Cinderella story! See how the teams stack up on social media during the tournament as they prepare to play under the brightest lights in college basketball.
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