Happy Fall Phoenix Friends,

As we get ready to launch another great year of Phoenix basketball, I wanted to share with you the importance of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) to the future of our programs that you love and support. First, thank you so much for your continued belief and support – through season tickets, the Phoenix Fund or special events. You are the reason why our teams are able to have success and we wouldn't be able to provide a quality Division 1 experience without you!  

We are fortunate that a group of key friends and alumni of UWGB athletics established the Fly With the Phoenix Collective (The Collective) in December, 2022. The Collective is a separate 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to provide NIL opportunities for select Phoenix athletes while also positively impacting the local non-profit organizations through the work of our student-athletes.  The Collective has provided a number of NIL opportunities for our student-athletes over the past 1.5 years, and now looks to take the next step to lead the way in the Division 1 mid-major market. NIL is critical to the future success of Phoenix basketball and all of our sports. As the Division 1 landscape rapidly changes, and with pending revenue sharing and a major national settlement brokered by the Power Conferences and the NCAA expected to be finalized in spring, 2025, we must act now to ensure we are competitive in the market. We must retain and recruit the best possible talent to ensure our basketball programs thrive and that means the Fly With The Phoenix Collective must be strong to provide NIL opportunities.

For example, If every basketball season ticket holder contributed $100 or $250 a year to the Collective, we would be VERY competitive in the mid-major market – surpassing the majority of the Horizon League and beyond.

Please consider making a gift Become a Member | Fly With The Phoenix and join the Collective which will directly support and empower our student-athletes. The Collective is heavily focused on men's and women's basketball, but has a goal to impact all sport programs at UWGB. If you have questions on the Collective, please contact Sean Daniels, Associate AD:   danielss@uwgb.edu. Sean is the liaison from the Collective to UWGB and will be happy to give you more information about its importance.

The urgency we have here is that as recruiting and retention is always top of mind and our coaches will need to make decisions this year to ensure we are positioned to be highly competitive in the talent market and the transfer portal at the appropriate times.  Our student-athletes will continue to excel in competition, in the classroom and in the community and we will continue to RISE and elevate Northeast Wisconsin's Division 1 Team. Thank you for your continued support, I look forward to seeing you all at the games this season – GO PHOENIX!

Best regards,

Josh Moon

Director of Athletics