United Wholesale Mortgage CEO Mat Ishbia may no longer financially support Michigan State University (MSU) athletes to “avoid conflict” with Ishbia’s professional sports teams, the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury.
UWM said it has decided to end its name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal with MSU at the end of June. The Pontiac-headquartered wholesale mortgage lender entered a partnership with the university in 2021 to sponsor its basketball and football teams.
But as the new Suns and Mercury owner, Ishbia was asked to terminate this NIL agreement to avoid any actual or potential conflict of interest, according to a letter sent to affected athletes by a company spokesperson.
Source: mpamag.com