Grand Sierra Resort Partners With Nevada Women’s Basketball Through "Friends of the Pack" Collective

Grand Sierra Resort and Casino announces NIL partnership with the University of Nevada women's basketball team through the "Friends of the Pack" collective.

Grand Sierra Resort and Casino announced a partnership with the University of Nevada women's basketball team on Thursday. 

The collaboration was facilitated by the "Friends of the Pack" collective which provides opportunities for University of Nevada student-athletes to engage with the community and monetize their personal brand. 

Financial details of the partnership were not released. 

The Grand Sierra Resort posted a statement on their website announcing the partnership:

"We are absolutely thrilled to partner with many of the incredible athletes of the University of Nevada women's basketball team," said Christopher Abraham, Sr. Vice President of Marketing Sales & Entertainment. "This partnership allows us to shine a spotlight on the amazing student-athletes and women's basketball program throughout the season. We can't wait to see how this partnership unfolds."

This is one of the several community engagement opportunities that Friends of the Pack has facilitated for their student-athletes. 

In early October, the collective held a mixer at The Eddie in downtown Reno. Nevada student-athletes, fans, university employees, and local businesses attended the event. 

One of the benefits of collectives is that they enable student-athletes to engage with professionals in their communities. These relationships often provide student-athletes with mentorship outside of their sport, relationships that could lead to job opportunities after graduation, and compensation in exchange for community service.

The federal government and judges will ultimately decide the issue of whether student-athletes can receive "pay-for-play" compensation in the coming years, which may change the dynamic of how collectives operate. In the meantime, collectives will continue to grow and provide opportunities for student-athletes to engage with their communities and receive compensation.