University of Arizona Basketball Star Cate Reese Signs NIL Endorsement Deal with Newegg

One of the nation’s top women’s college basketball players, Reese leads her team on the court and uses tech when she’s not playing

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Newegg (NASDAQ: NEGG), a leading global technology e-commerce retailer, today announced it has signed an NCAA athlete endorsement, the company’s first, with elite women’s college basketball player Cate Reese of the University of Arizona for a promotional campaign starting today and continuing during the 2022 women’s NCAA basketball tournament.

This year’s tournament is the first since the name, image and likeness (NIL) rule took effect last year. This is also Reese’s first national NIL endorsement deal.

A senior who announced plans to return to the university and team next season, Reese is considered one of the top women’s college basketball players in the country and was leading her then-top 10 ranked team this season in both scoring and rebounding prior to being sidelined with a shoulder injury on Feb. 20.

A 6-foot, 2-inch forward from Cypress, Texas, Reese was named to both the 2022 Naismith Women’s Player of the Year Midseason Team and the All-Pac-12 Team, her third conference selection. Without Reese in the lineup, the Wildcats lost three of their last four games, including their only home loss. She has not played in a game since suffering the shoulder injury in a conference game collision but is expected to return for the women’s NCAA basketball tournament. Her team begins the tournament on Saturday on its home court. Last year, Reese and her teammates finished the season as runners-up, losing by just one point in the national championship game. The team is expected to make a strong showing again in this year’s tournament with Reese back in the lineup.

Known for her physical play, Reese has a reputation for being tough, tenacious, and resilient. Before arriving in Tucson, Ariz., she was the school’s first-ever five-star women’s basketball recruit and its first McDonald’s All-American.

Off the court, Reese uses a laptop for classwork, to connect with friends and family through video conferencing and to watch basketball highlights while both at home and on the road. She uses a phone, like most college students, and wears a smartwatch to track health statistics.

With a class schedule, basketball commitments and setting aside time for socializing, Reese wouldn’t seem to have time for video games, but she plays several PlayStation®5 games, including Fortnite, with friends both online and in the same room.

“Given my limited free time during the season, I rely heavily on technology to stay focused and productive,” Reese said. “Whether it’s schoolwork on my laptop, tracking steps on my smartwatch or trying to win a video game, I’m often ‘plugged in’ when I’m not focused on basketball. Given how integral technology is to my everyday life, it made sense to partner with Newegg.”

“People are more reliant on tech than ever so even a busy student-athlete uses tech to balance and enhance her busy life.” said Benny Tam, Vice President of Category Marketing and Merchandising for Newegg. “The example Cate sets as a hard-working student-athlete along with using tech products makes her a great promotional partner for Newegg.”

Reese is featured on a Newegg.com sales site banner, promotional videos and the company’s social media as part of the endorsement.

College athletes’ NIL brand endorsements during their season often include only their social media content. However, Reese was filmed by the Newegg media team during a full-day Los Angeles shoot.

Newegg’s Madness Sale offers extensive basketball-themed promotions and discounts on a variety of product categories throughout March.

About Newegg

Newegg Commerce, Inc. (NASDAQ: NEGG), founded in 2001 and based in the City of Industry, Calif., near Los Angeles, is a leading global online retailer for PC hardware, consumer electronics, gaming peripherals, home appliances, automotive and lifestyle technology. Newegg serves businesses’ e-commerce needs with marketing, supply chain, and technical solutions in a single platform. For more information: Newegg.com.

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Note for media: For photos and a video of Cate Reese from Newegg, access this link: https://newegg.io/cate_reese