Bailey Rucker of Boyd County with Finn’s Ice Cream manager Kim Cole after signing her NIL deal. (Larry Vaught Photo)
Finn’s Ice Cream and Centre Field Lofts of Danville has added another Centre College athlete to its team through a NIL (name, image, likeness) deal through The 1926 Collective.
The 1926 Collective was created by former Centre athletes and alumni to provide opportunities for Centre College female athletes and is believed to be the only Division III collective focused on female athletes.
Lindsay Carr of soccer and Regan Brownley of softball had previously partnered with Finn’s and Centre Field Lofts and Saturday junior basketball player Bailey Rucker signed her NIL deal.
A huge part of the NIL space relies on athletes wanting to leverage their personal brand. It’s not something that every athlete will want to do,” said Erin Menard Spalding, a former Centre soccer player and 1926 Collective executive committee member.
“When you meet Bailey, you immediately know who she is and what she wants for her future and her career. We knew immediately she would be a good fit for the collective. She will bring that authenticity and energy to any brand she represents.”
Rucker was one of 11 Centre student-athletes headed into medical professions that was awarded a scholarship by the Lexington Clinic Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of central Kentucky, earlier this fall. She wants to be a forensic pathologist and is a biochemistry major who is currently working one day per week with the state medical examiner.
“Bailey has a fun and energetic personality but what impressed us more is this fierce drive she has just below the surface that makes her successful on the court and off. We can’t wait to see what she will do next,” Spalding said.
“Inking the partnership between Bailey and Finn’s Ice cream is a perfect example of what the 1926 Collective is all about. It is an important step forward for us to expand the women’s sports we are impacting at Centre College and continue to build credibility for what NIL means in Division III.”
Rucker said NIL opportunities have helped numerous student-athletes and she feels “blessed” that Centre female athletes also now have that opportunity.
“I’m extremely grateful to be a part of this deal with Finn’s and for them to even take me into consideration. The team has all been so wonderful to meet and the ice cream is truly top notch, absolutely wonderful for my sweet tooth,” Rucker said.
“The 1926 Collective has opened up a whole bunch of doors for female athletes here at Centre and hopefully for Division III as a whole. They’ve started something truly amazing and I’m blessed to be a part of it all.”
