Venmo kicks off the 2026-2027 NIL season with nine standout student-athletes and introduces the Money Moves initiative.
The new initiative highlights rising stars in football, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and softball who are directing a portion of their NIL earnings to show appreciation for the communities supporting them.
Highlights:
- Venmo has announced its 2026-2027 NIL roster: nine standout student-athletes across football, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and softball.
- Seven of the nine athletes on the roster compete in women's sports.
- In partnership with the athletes, Venmo has launched Money Moves — an initiative where student-athletes can receive a portion of their earnings via Venmo and share them with teammates, coaches, mentors, family members, and fans in their communities using Venmo.
- Money Moves content will be featured on Venmo’s Instagram and TikTok throughout the 2026-2027 academic year.
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, /PRNewswire/ — Today, Venmo announced its Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) athlete partner roster for the 2026–2027 academic year, kicking off collaborations with nine student-athletes across five sports. In partnership with these athletes, Venmo is introducing Money Moves — an initiative that reimagines and celebrates NIL earnings not just as personal income, but as an opportunity to give back to the teammates, family, coaches, mentors, and campus communities that help make those earnings possible, using Venmo.
Venmo’s 2026-2027 NIL roster reflects the breadth of collegiate sports and the growing influence of women's athletics. Seven of the nine athletes compete in women's disciplines, underscoring Venmo’s continued investment in athletes who are driving some of the fastest-growing fan bases in sports:
- Audi Crooks, Basketball, Oklahoma State University
- Ava Jurivich, Volleyball, Penn State University
- Avery Neff, Gymnastics, University of Utah
- Caroline Jurivich, Volleyball, Penn State University
- DJ Lagway, Football, Baylor University
- Jazzy Davidson, Basketball, University of Southern California
- Kaitlyn Terry, Softball, Texas Tech University
- Marcus Neal Jr., Football, Penn State University
- Sienna Betts, Basketball, University of California, Los Angeles
Success is never a solo effort — behind every student-athlete is a community, from family and teammates to coaches, mentors, and fans. Through Money Moves, Venmo’s nine athletes can receive their NIL earnings directly via Venmo and use the platform to give back to the communities that help them succeed. This program builds on how athletes already use Venmo daily and shows how money can go beyond personal payouts to express the gratitude, generosity, and connections that matter most.
"Partnering with Venmo for the second year in a row feels very natural, and I’m excited to be part of this year’s list of incredible NIL athletes," said Sienna Betts, UCLA basketball player. "Money Moves is about more than just NIL. It’s an opportunity to recognize the people who have supported me over the years and to give back to the people and places that have helped me, using an app I already use constantly. This is a big year for me, and I’m grateful to be able to make my most meaningful moves with Venmo."
"Partnering with Venmo for Money Moves means a lot to me," said DJ Lagway, Baylor University quarterback. "Moving to Baylor was a homecoming for my family and a reminder of how lucky I am on my journey. From my parents to my coaches and mentors, so many people have poured into me, and Money Moves gives me a chance to show my appreciation."
Money Moves builds on the connection Venmo has helped foster on college campuses for years, helping students manage the daily expenses of college life and stay connected with friends. The company has expanded this role through co-branded university debit cards, NIL partnerships with student-athletes, and game-day activations for students and fans throughout the 2025-2026 season. New research from Venmo highlights this connection: 68% of college students surveyed say that splitting expenses helps avoid financial friction between friends, and 63% are more likely to join a group plan if expenses can be split digitally. From dinners and late-night food runs to pre-game tailgates, road trips, and shared expenses, Venmo helps students pay for and split the cost of the moments that bring them together or strengthen friendships through small acts of appreciation.
That same instinct — to share, split costs, and support one another — will play out on a larger stage as Venmo and the student-athletes showcase their Money Moves throughout the 2026–2027 season. Stay tuned to Venmo’s Instagram and TikTok.
About Venmo: Venmo is a next-generation money transfer app that offers fast, safe, and social payments. With best-in-class capabilities for users to send, split, buy, and sell, Venmo enables a seamless flow of money between the people and places that matter most to millions of users across the United States. For more information, visit: Venmo.com.
Media Contact: v-press@paypal.com
Research Methodology: Venmo commissioned Morning Consult, a global decision intelligence and marketing research company, to conduct an online survey of 5,000 adults aged 18–22. The survey was conducted from July 29 to July 31, 2026. "College students" are defined as adults aged 18–22 who reported that they are currently enrolled in college. The full survey results have a margin of error of ±1 percentage point.
