Mo'ne Davis, and Only Mo'ne Davis, May Profit From Her Likeness According to NCAA

Mo’ne Davis appeared in a Chevy Commercial. Profiting from her likeness, five years before she would attend college, will not impact her eligibility in whatever sport she chooses according to the NCAA.

"“The NCAA staff’s decision was made within this process and based on a combination of considerations,” James said in the statement. “This waiver narrowly extends the rules — which allow Davis to accept the payment and still be eligible in any other sport — to include baseball. The NCAA staff also considered the historically limited opportunities for women to participate in professional baseball. In addition, Davis is much younger than when the vast majority of the prospect rules apply. While this situation is unusual, the flexible approach utilized in this decision is not.”"

This fits within past NCAA precedent, which has been doing whatever seems convenient at the time. Right now, that is not taking a substantial public relations hit over a popular young athlete who might compete in college athletics. Earning off-the-field income may be legal by that point anyway.

But, lest you think the NCAA experienced a complete bout of common sense, Geno Auriemma was charged with a secondary violation for calling to wish her luck, after having it cleared by UConn’s compliance department.

[USA Today Sports]