Miami's famous Cavinder twins, Haley and Hanna, have decided to forgo their final year of college eligibility.
But not for the WNBA.
The athletes-turned-influencers want to get a start on life outside of basketball. Haley recently saidthat, while she still enjoys playing and wouldn't mind coming back for a fifth year, Hanna had other plans.
And the pair are against splitting up, thanks to their heavy NIL resume.
MORE: How much do the Cavinder twins make through NIL deals?
The Sporting News took a look at where they could end up next.
Cavinder twins next steps
The Cavinder twins posted a farewell to Miami via Twitter on Tuesday morning, where they shared that they will not be taking their fifth year of COVID eligibility.
When one door closes, another door opens… to be continued🧡 @CavinderHanna pic.twitter.com/0pXKOpBpaO
— Haley Cavinder (@CavinderHaley) April 11, 2023
The twins spent one season with the Hurricanes after three years at Fresno State, and were part of Miami's historic Elite Eight run this year. While Hanna didn't see as much court time as her fraternal counterpart, Haley was a prominent starter and averaged 12.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
Now, with their 31 NIL deals worth near $2 million annually and their more than 5 million followers on social media, two of the biggest names coming out of the NCAA have several different paths they could take.
According to On3, the twinsplan to remain social media influencers andhave multiple business opportunities ahead of them — ones that may have been restricted previously by NCAA policies on NIL, hence their recruiting violation in February after getting mixed up with booster John Ruiz.
MORE:Who is John Ruiz? Meet billionaire booster behind Miami's NIL megadeals
Their chief agent Jeff Hoffman of Everett Sports Management told On3:
They can make a lot more money on their own. This is kind of a bridge — maybe some of the most highly-paid basketball players on the planet. And they’re deciding to go pro in something else. NIL was to provide opportunities and that’s exactly what it’s done.
The possibilities are endless as the NIL ambassadors step off the court and continue to market themselves as a packaged deal. Their drive to get involved with as many different outlets as possible over the last 21 months, such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, via podcasting and through unique brand deals, has only prepared them for an open realm.
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Will Cavinder twins join WWE?
The Cavinder twins inked a two-year contract with World Wrestling Entertainment in December 2021.
Their specific NIL deal, or "Next in Line" by the organization, is to assimilate college athletes with the happenings of the WWE, exposing them to events and superstars to, one day, get them into a career in the ring, according to ESPN.
While their involvement with the WWE has clear marketing benefits for both parties,the biggest question remains: will they ever actually wrestle?
The "Next in Line" program the twins are a part of was created to scout future WWE superstars, sure, but it's not designed to pressure anyone into the ring. It's a mix of people who can handle the rigors of the ring, but also thrive in front of the camera through promos, interviews and online. According to ESPN, the organization selects college athletes who still have eligibility and goals to complete.
Some, like NCAA wrestling champion and Olympic gold medalist Gable Stevenson, have clear paths into the ring.
For others, like the Cavinder twins, it's not only entertainment, but a way to associate their name, image and likeness with a bigger platform in the world of sports. All they have to do is make appearances and they sure do have a perfect blueprint to follow because of the Bella twins, Brie and Nikki, who started down the same path in 2007 and spent over a decade in it.
Hoffman told ESPN:
Now you've got a whole new group of people who didn't know who the Cavinders were, who may not even know they're basketball players, who may only know them from an influence standpoint, but they're part of WWE. That is where nirvana happens, because you can stack different audiences with different demographics to say, 'Hey, the Cavinders are interested in this product or service.'
Whether through further involvement in WWE or elsewhere, plenty of people will be watching whatever the Cavinders do next.
