Dawn Staley Discusses Revenue Sharing Challenges with Michelle Obama

In a recent podcast with former First Lady Michelle Obama, South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley talked about the tangled world of revenue sharing in college sports. The episode, which aired August 13, touched on the tricky parts of keeping things fair and open among athletes.

Staley stressed how much clear communication matters right now. She wants to see creative solutions for these changes, and she’s glad student-athletes are finally seeing some financial reward—something she thinks should’ve happened ages ago.

Revenue Sharing in College Athletics: A New Era

College sports are changing fast, and revenue sharing is at the center of it all. Thanks to the recent House settlement, schools can now pay athletes up to $20.5 million a year starting July 1.

That money comes on top of what athletes already make from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals. For a program like South Carolina, it’s a lot to juggle—making sure payments are fair and the team stays united isn’t simple.

The Role of Non-Disclosure Agreements

Staley brought up Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) for her players when it comes to their earnings. She feels these NDAs help keep the team together by stopping players from comparing paychecks and stirring up trouble.

“Now whether they can stick with that or not, some of them get disgruntled and maybe transfer and just say what ‘I was making (amount)’ and it can stir up the pot,” she admitted. There’s always that risk.

Impact on the Locker Room

Obama asked if all this money talk has changed the locker room. Staley said, “knock on wood, they haven’t.” She credits honest, straightforward talks with her players for keeping things smooth.

She tries to lay out why different players get different amounts. “I’ll tell them, there’s a reason why you get paid this and you get paid that. I’ll explain that to them,” she said. It seems to help, at least for now.

Challenges in Recruiting

Revenue sharing has made recruiting a whole new game. Staley pointed out how tough it is to manage budgets and expectations while still competing for top recruits.

“The market says that if you’re a non-contributor and you go into the portal, they can go ask a school like us for $100,000,” she said. Suddenly, it feels like a bidding war, and South Carolina has to be careful not to overspend just to keep up.

Innovative Strategies

Staley’s trying new things to help her players out financially. One example is the first-ever Players Era Women’s Championship, coming up in November.

Players will have a shot at earning at least $1 million through NIL activities at this event. The Gamecocks will play Duke on November 26, then either Texas or UCLA on November 27 in Las Vegas.

“I’m supportive of it, I really am,” Staley said. She wants to strike a balance—let athletes profit, but keep college sports feeling like college.

Maintaining Control and Transparency

Staley puts a big focus on control and transparency. She handles most financial talks with agents herself, hoping to keep things clear for everyone involved.

Still, she admitted it’s tricky when players share the same agent. They might find out what others are making, and that can complicate things.

General Distribution of Funds

South Carolina hasn’t spelled out exactly how they’ll split up the revenue sharing money. Staley gave a rough idea: “Probably $20 million per school but that’s football, that’s men’s basketball and maybe sprinkling women’s basketball and other Olympic sports.”

It’s a lot to think about—how do you make sure all the programs get a fair shake?

Long-Overdue Changes

Staley still stands behind these changes. “I think it’s long overdue,” she said. She believes it’s only right for athletes to benefit from their own name, image, and likeness.

At the same time, she hopes college sports can hang onto some of that amateur spirit, even as the money keeps flowing in.