adidas NIL Ambassadors Power Texas A&M’s Historic Upset to First-Ever Final Four

adidas NIL ambassadors Tatum Thomas and Ava Underwood provided the upset of the year, launching Texas A&M (TAMU) past unbeaten Nebraska to reach the Final Four for the first time in school history.

The duo, who both headlined sponsored adidas campaigns through the adidas NIL ambassador program this year, anchored TAMU through the dramatic five-set win over the No. 1 overall seed. Their breakout performance on the national stage, which earned them a trip to Kansas City for the NCAA Semifinal against Pitt on December 18th, perfectly illustrates the value of brands partnering with college athletes during championship moments.

Underwood, who participated in the EVO SL adidas shoot powered by Postgame earlier this year, and Thomas, who helped launch the Purechill recovery shoe last week, are key examples of athletes taking advantage of NIL opportunities while shining on the court. The adidas NIL Ambassador Program, open to 50,000+ student-athletes across 109 Division I schools, reinforces the brand’s commitment to equitable access, athlete opportunity, and scalable creator-driven campaigns across the collegiate landscape.