April was one for the record books. Across every category - schools, programs, and individual athletes - the NIL Store saw incredible momentum as college sports fans, alumni, and supporters showed up in a big way for their teams. From basketball powerhouses to a standout softball star, here's a look at who led the charge in April 2026.
🏆 Top-Selling Schools — April 2026
The schools driving the most sales across overall this month.
| # | School |
|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois |
| 2 | UCLA |
| 3 | Michigan |
| 4 | UConn |
| 5 | Purdue |
| 6 | South Carolina |
| 7 | Indiana |
| 8 | Nebraska |
| 9 | Arkansas |
| 10 | LSU |
Illinois took the top spot in April, a testament to the NIL Store's original school and its fanbase's recognition of an incredible Final Four run. UCLA and Michigan rounded out the top three as they celebrated basketball national championships, while UConn, South Carolina, and LSU, all women's basketball powerhouses, proved that women's sports merchandise is more popular than ever on the NIL Store.
🌟 Top-Selling Schools (Outside ACC, Big Ten, Big East, Big 12 & SEC)
These schools prove that great fan energy isn't limited to Power 5 conferences.
| # | School |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii |
| 2 | Denver |
| 3 | Miami (Ohio) |
| 4 | Illinois State |
| 5 | East Carolina |
| 6 | WKU |
| 7 | Temple |
| 8 | Johns Hopkins |
| 9 | Tulane |
| 10 | UC Davis |
One of our favorite lists every month: the schools punching above their weight class. Hawaii led all non-power conference schools, followed by Denver and Miami (Ohio). A huge shoutout to Johns Hopkins making the list, a reminder that NIL Store serves athletic communities at every level, including Division III (shoutout to its highly successful D1 lacrosse programs, as well.
📋 Top-Selling Programs — April 2026
The specific programs generating the most sales activity this month.
| # | Program |
|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois Men's Basketball |
| 2 | UCLA Women's Basketball |
| 3 | Michigan Men's Basketball |
| 4 | UConn Women's Basketball |
| 5 | Purdue Men's Basketball |
| 6 | UConn Men's Basketball |
| 7 | Indiana Football |
| 8 | South Carolina Women's Basketball |
| 9 | Nebraska Men's Basketball |
| 10 | LSU Women's Basketball |
Basketball dominated April's program rankings which makes perfect sense given the post-March Madness excitement still buzzing through college athletics. Illinois Men's Basketball claimed the #1 program spot, while UCLA Women's Basketball came in at a strong #2. Indiana Football earns a special nod as the lone non-basketball program in the top 10, as fans gobbled up Fernando Mendoza merchandise before he hit the pros.
🏅 Top-Earning Female Athletes — April 2026
These women's NIL earnings on Campus Ink reflect the surging popularity of women's college sports.
| # | Athlete | School | Sport |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Azzi Fudd | UConn | Women's Basketball |
| 2 | Gabriela Jaquez | UCLA | Women's Basketball |
| 3 | Lauren Betts | UCLA | Women's Basketball |
| 4 | Raven Johnson | South Carolina | Women's Basketball |
| 5 | Tessa Johnson | South Carolina | Women's Basketball |
| 6 | Sarah Strong | UConn | Women's Basketball |
| 7 | Kiki Rice | UCLA | Women's Basketball |
| 8 | Flau'jae Johnson | LSU | Women's Basketball |
| 9 | Karlyn Pickens | Tennessee | Softball |
| 10 | Agot Makeer | South Carolina | Women's Basketball |
UConn's Azzi Fudd takes the #1 spot among female athletes in April, claiming the position for the ninth consecutive month. She's nearing a perfect year in the top spot, after taking the mantle from Paige Bueckers last July. UCLA placed two athletes in the top three with Gabriela Jaquez and Lauren Betts, while South Carolina had an impressive three athletes in the top 10 (Raven Johnson, Tessa Johnson, and Agot Makeer), reflecting the Gamecocks' dominant national presence.
🏅 Top-Earning Male Athletes — April 2026
These men's athletes drove the most NIL revenue on Campus Ink throughout April.
| # | Athlete | School | Sport |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Mirkovic | Illinois | Men's Basketball |
| 2 | Keaton Wagler | Illinois | Men's Basketball |
| 3 | Andrej Stojakovic | Illinois | Men's Basketball |
| 4 | Braden Smith | Purdue | Men's Basketball |
| 5 | Darius Acuff Jr. | Arkansas | Men's Basketball |
| 6 | Braylon Mullins | UConn | Men's Basketball |
| 7 | Alex Karaban | UConn | Men's Basketball |
| 8 | Porter Martone | Michigan State | Men's Ice Hockey |
| 9 | Kylan Boswell | Illinois | Men's Basketball |
| 10 | Milan Momcilovic | Iowa State | Men's Basketball |
Illinois absolutely dominated the men's side in April — placing four athletes in the top 10, including the top three spots. David Mirkovic, Keaton Wagler, and Andrej Stojakovic led all male athletes, a clear reflection of the Fighting Illini's surging basketball fanbase. Purdue's Braden Smith and Arkansas's Darius Acuff Jr. showed strong support from their respective programs as well.