HOW COLLEGE TENNIS STAR IS EARNING $680,000 IN NIL JUST FOR LOOKING LIKE 49ERS STAR BROCK PURDY
The University of North Carolina women’s tennis team's following recently received a massive boost much in thanks to its freshman star - and an NFL quarterback.
Anna Frey, who signed with UNC two months ago, shot to viral fame in 2023 and now boasts over 800,000 followers on Instagram and a massive 2.2million on TikTok, bringing more eyes than ever before to the Tar Heels' women's tennis team.
However, Frey and the Tar Heels may owe some thanks to the San Francisco 49ers and their quarterback Brock Purdy too.
The program's social media accounts shared a series of photos and videos from their season-opening victory over Campbell earlier this week, two of which included their freshman star.
The posts of Frey amassed almost 80,000 likes on Instagram - over 70,000 more than any of their other recent photos.
The same was true of her signing announcement, which was uploaded to the platform, which currently boasts 200,000 likes.
And it's all thanks to NFL star Purdy. Frey first gained online recognition when social media users spotted an uncanny semblance between her and the signal caller.
The eerie likeness shot her to social media fame, which she has spun into lucrative NIL deals.
Since she begun posting videos as Purdy's doppelganger, Frey has inked deals with the likes of American Eagle, Nerds, FILA, and Head USA.
The lucrative contracts, all of which she landed before she even stepped foot in Chapel Hill, have seen her NIL worth rocket.
Frey's NIL value reported stands at a staggering $681,000, according to popular college sports site, On3.
The sum previously made her the No. 1-ranked valuation in women’s high school tennis and now sees her come in at sixth in the overall women's college sports ranking.
She trails behind only women's basketball stars Flau'jae Johnson, Juju Watkins, Aaliyah Chavez, golf's Kai Trump, and softball's NiJaree Canady.
The Utah native first rose to fame when she was still in high school with her likeness to Purdy even earning her an invite to the 2023 Super Bowl.
After Purdy and the Niners secured their spot in the big game two seasons ago, Frey shared a video with her millions of followers joking that she was 'patiently waiting' for an invite to the Super Bowl.
The video was split 50-50 with Purdy's postgame celebrations in San Francisco, in which his brother, Chubba, could be heard jokingly saying, 'Anna Frey's going to the Super Bowl.'
She ultimately sealed her spot at the showdown in Las Vegas, which Purdy and San Francisco eventually lost, after Six Star Pro Nutrition offered her a trip. The brand also inked to an NIL deal.
Frey joined UNC as a top high school recruit, after being ranked as high as no. 2 nationally in her recruiting class.
She was a two-time semi-finalist at the USTA Billie Jean King Girls' 16s National Championships amid her impressive junior resume.
Meanwhile, on the professional circuit, Frey has attained a career-high WTA ranking of no. 803 in the world and defeated the world no. 103 at the 2024 Cleveland 250K WTA event.
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