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SALT LAKE CITY â Buckle up ... again.
For the second time in a two-month period, the Crimson Collective â the officially-recognized NIL collective for the University of Utah â is leasing more vehicles to athletes at Utah.
This time, members of the men's and women's basketball teams, as well gymnasts within the Red Rocks program, will have the opportunity to lease a 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Edition or a 2024 Ram 1500 Big Horn truck with the Night Edition package â the same trucks available to the members of the football team.
Like their football counterparts, the athletes that take part in the vehicle deal will have the lease and insurance costs paid for by donors to the Crimson Collective for as long as each athlete remains eligible.
The Crimson Collective shared the news with athletes from each of the men's and women's basketball teams, as well as the Red Rocks, Wednesday afternoon at an unveiling at the Huntsman Center.
The expanded program by the Crimson Collective is meant to provide more NIL resources to as many athletes at the university as possible, especially to the two highest-profile female sports â women's basketball and gymnastics.
It's "the first of its kind ever that's been done for women's sports, both gymnastics and women's basketball," according to Derek Mattsson, CEO of For The Win 360°, which is a new streaming video platform dedicated to support University of Utah athletes and their stories.
The video platform, which is provided through an app on the phone, is intended to serve as a way for donors to contribute to the collective while learning more about the various athletes that have enrolled at the University of Utah.
"The whole mission of For The Win and the mission of our collective is to broaden it to include all athletes," Mattsson told KSL.com. "That's why we gave every player on the football team a truck, and that's why in these announcements we're doing the same. We want to get it beyond just the top 5% of the players."
For the collective, it was important to also support the female athletes that have been a large part of the university's success, an offering that Mattsson described as "historic" and "game-changing" as it relates to collectives supporting female athletes.
"Building off our success with Utes football, we're setting a new standard by enhancing support and expanding opportunities in collegiate athletics, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable environment for all student-athletes," Mattsson said.
Nicole Mouskondis, a former Utah gymnast and board member of the Crimson Collective, said the expanded offer to female athletes is "incredibly meaningful."
"When we began our journey with the Crimson Collective, we envisioned an equitable platform that supports and connects all student-athletes, and particularly our women's teams," Mouskondis said. "This initiative is not just about providing transportation; it's about showing all of our athletes that their achievements and contributions to the community are equally celebrated, on and off the field."
