UVA women's hoops star Sam Brunelle signs NIL representation deal

Sam Brunelle, a women’s basketball player at Virginia, has signed an exclusive representation agreement with Hook Sports. The group will represent her moving forward in all NIL agreements, deals and other activities.

“We are thrilled to represent Sam and are looking forward to creating NIL partnership opportunities on her behalf,” said Chip Royer, founding partner of Hook Sports Marketing. “She’s a terrific ambassador for the University and for our community. Sam is excited to be home and to connect with UVA fans across the region.”

Hook Sports will work to help Brunelle find NIL opportunities. These are going to include things like autograph signings, appearances, brand ambassadorship and other similar opportunities. Before adding Sam Brunelle as a client, Hook Sports was already representing more than a dozen Virginia student-athletes, including several men’s basketball players.

Brunelle is a native of Ruckersville, Va. She is a graduate transfer, having earned her undergraduate degree in three years at Notre Dame. Brunelle, currently a junior, has two seasons of eligibility left. The 6-foot-2 Brunelle came off the bench to average 16.5 minutes a game this past season when the Irish (24-9, 12-5 ACC) advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Brunelle scored nearly seven points a game (6.8 ppg), averaged 2.5 rebounds a contest and totaled 20 blocks. Brunelle was the No. 6-ranked recruit in the Class of 2019 and at one time was ranked No. 1. She was a McDonald’s All-American that season.

Sam Brunelle and NIL

It was with the Irish that she made a name for herself in women’s college basketball. In that time, she became one of the sport’s more marketable athletes. Sam Brunelle has done a great job building up her own personal brand. Brunelle has more than 45,000 followers on Instagram.

“It’s a work in progress because it’s all brand new, working through it,” Brunelle said of NIL when it was first allowed.

Additionally, Sam Brunelle also joined YOKE, while at Notre Dame. YOKE was founded by former Notre Dame football players and it allows fans to play video games with their favorite athletes as part of a NIL opportunity.