NIL Store's Top-Selling Schools & Athletes from March Madness

The nets have been cut, the trophies hoisted, and the 2026 college basketball season is officially in the books. While the action on the court was nothing short of legendary—shoutout to the UCLA Bruins women and Michigan Wolverines men on their titles—the action at the NIL Store was equally electric.

From Selection Sunday on March 15 through the final buzzer, fans showed up in a massive way to support their favorite athletes. Whether it was a freshman phenom leading a Cinderella run or a seasoned veteran capping off an All-American career, the NIL impact has never been clearer.

Here is a breakdown of the best-selling categories and top earners that defined the 2026 tournament season.

🏫 Top-Selling Schools: The Powerhouses

It’s no surprise that the schools making the deepest runs saw the most love from their fanbases. Illinois and Purdue dominated the charts, fueled by a midwest basketball fever that refused to break. Meanwhile, UCLA and UConn proved once again why they are the standard-bearers for the sport.

1. Illinois (first mbb Final Four since 2005)
2. Purdue 
3. UConn
4. UCLA (first wbb National Championship)
5. St. John's (first mbb Sweet Sixteen since 1999)
6. Nebraska (first mbb Sweet Sixteen in history)
7. Arkansas
8. South Carolina
9. Iowa (first mbb Elite Eight since 1987)
10. LSU

🌟 Top-Earning Athletes: The Faces of the Tournament

NIL is about the individual story, and no stories were bigger than those of Braden Smith and Azzi Fudd. Smith, the consensus First-Team All-American, and Fudd, the UConn icon, led the way in total earnings.

Overall Top Earners

1. Braden Smith
2. Keaton Wagler
3. David Mirkovic
4. Azzi Fudd
5. Darius Acuff Jr.
6. Andrej Stojakovic
7. Lauren Betts
8. Zuby Ejiofor
9. Braylon Mullins
10. Gabriela Jaquez

Top-Earning Male Athletes

1. Braden Smith
2. Keaton Wagler
3. David Mirkovic
4. Darius Acuff Jr.
5. Andrej Stojakovic
6. Zuby Ejiofor
7. Braylon Mullins
8. Kylan Boswell
9. Bennett Stirtz
10. Pryce Sandfort

Top-Earning Female Athletes

1. Azzi Fudd
2. Lauren Betts
3. Gabriela Jaquez
4. Tessa Johnson
5. Sarah Strong
6. Raven Johnson
7. Flau’jae Johnson
8. KK Arnold
9. Audi Crooks
10. Taina Mair

👕 Top-Selling Jerseys

The "must-have" item of the tournament was undoubtedly the jersey. Fans weren't just buying standard home whites; they were looking for specific alternate looks and iconic "moments" in fabric form.

1. Braden Smith - Blood Jersey
2. Keaton Wagler - Orange Script Jersey
3. Darius Acuff Jr. - White Jersey
4. Keaton Wagler - Navy Shield Jersey
5. David Mirkovic - Orange Script Jersey
6. Braden Smith - Black Script Jersey
7. Azzi Fudd - Throwback Jersey
8. Keaton Wagler - White Script Jersey
9. Bennett Stirtz - Black Jersey
10. Zuby Ejiofor - Red Jersey

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