Sydney Parrish: Clarifying the $109 Million Contract Rumor
Recently, a statement circulated claiming that Sydney Parrish, a guard for the Indiana Hoosiers women’s basketball team, agreed to a four-year, $109 million contract with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
However, there is no factual basis for this claim. Such a contract would violate NCAA rules and far exceed the earning capacity of any current female collegiate or professional basketball player.
- Attended Hamilton Southeastern High School (Fishers, Indiana)
- Named Indiana Miss Basketball (2020)
- Selected as a McDonald’s All-American
- Spent two seasons with the Oregon Ducks
- Averaged 6–8 points per game
- Gained valuable Pac-12 experience
- Returned home to Indiana for her junior year
- Quickly became a standout player in the Big Ten
- Averaged 12+ PPG, earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention
- Will play her final NCAA season in 2024–25 as a graduate student
- NIL stands for Name, Image, and Likeness
- NCAA athletes can now earn money from sponsorships, endorsements, appearances, etc.
- Parrish has been involved in multiple NIL deals—locally and regionally
- An NIL deal is not a salary paid by the school or a professional team
- Athletes do not receive guaranteed contracts like in the WNBA or NBA
- No NIL deal has ever approached $109 million
- No reports from credible sources (ESPN, NCAA, school websites)
- No mention of the deal from Notre Dame or Indiana athletics
- No entry from Parrish into the transfer portal after the 2023–24 season
- NCAA schools cannot offer salaries to players
- Any “contract” of this nature would violate amateurism rules
- Parrish is not eligible to sign a pro-style contract while playing in college
- The highest-paid WNBA player in 2024 earns approximately $242,000 per season
- Total career earnings for most WNBA stars are in the low millions, not nine figures
- A $109 million deal would eclipse LeBron James’ first NBA contract
- The story likely originated from a fake news source, satire page, or edited social media post
- Misinformation spreads quickly on TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit
- Always verify sources before sharing major sports news
- Reliable updates come from ESPN, NCAA, school press releases, and verified journalists
- Parrish will play her graduate year at Indiana University
- Expected to be a key contributor for a top Big Ten team
- Hoping to make a deep NCAA Tournament run
- Potential 2025 WNBA Draft candidate
- With her size (6’2”), shooting ability, and leadership, she may attract scouts’ attention
- Could also play professionally overseas if not drafted
- Featured in regional commercials and sponsored social media content
- Represented Hoosiers For Good, an Indiana-based NIL collective
- Follows the path of other successful women athletes monetizing their brand
- Over 100k followers across Instagram and TikTok
- Uses her platform to promote brands, charities, and the Hoosiers
- Schools provide scholarships, not contracts
- Players can earn NIL money—but not from the university itself
- That figure is more than most male athletes earn in a decade
- The top WNBA stars have earned around $1–3 million over several years
- Notre Dame has not made any announcements about acquiring Parrish
- Indiana lists her on the 2024–25 active roster
- Expected to be one of the Hoosiers’ top scorers and leaders
- Will help guide Indiana’s tournament hopes
- Could earn additional NIL endorsements with continued strong performance
- Enter the WNBA Draft (2025)
- Play professionally overseas in Europe or Australia
- Pursue broadcasting, coaching, or content creation
There is no truth to the claim that Sydney Parrish signed a $109 million contract with the Notre Dame women’s basketball team. It’s likely a fabricated story or social media hoax. Parrish is continuing her college career at Indiana and has a bright future ahead—possibly in the WNBA or overseas—but no current NCAA athlete has signed anything even remotely resembling such a contract.
