Minnesota Aurora partners with Collective for players NIL

Minnesota Aurora becomes first USL W team to partner with NIL Collective

Minnesota Aurora FC announced that the club has partnered with Northern Lights Collective – an NIL collective for independent players with a focus on women soccer players – becoming the first USL W League team to enter a partnership with an NIL collective.

“Northern Lights Collective is proud to partner with Minnesota Aurora as the first USL W team to join forces with an NIL collective,” said Ida Kane, Founder Northern Lights Collective. “Aurora has set the standard, leading with their values, impact, and competitive excellence, and we’re proud to build on that strong foundation by creating meaningful opportunities for athletes to gain real-world experiences to help them reach their full potential.”

Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), introduced by the NCAA in 2021, allows college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness. Athletes can earn money through endorsements, sponsorships, merchandise licensing, public appearances, events, and other activities. Collectives pool funds from donors, fans and businesses to compensate student-athletes. In exchange, student-athletes fulfill obligations, such as event appearances, promoting brands and businesses or other activities centered upon utilizing their NIL. The majority of NIL collectives have been university specific and booster-funded but are still independent of each university.

A longtime Aurora supporter and retired finance executive, Kane, recognized a powerful opportunity to deepen the club’s mission of creating pathways for women to reach their full potential—on and off the field. By partnering with like-minded businesses and fans, Northern Lights strives to not only elevate brands through authentic athlete storytelling, but also provide players with invaluable real-world business experiences, helping shape the next generation of women leaders in sport and beyond.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Northern Lights Collective as we continue to champion opportunities for our athletes both on and off the field,” said Aurora Chief of Staff Saara Hassoun. “This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting players holistically — not just as athletes, but as individuals with unique brands, voices, and aspirations. We’re helping empower our players to take greater control of their futures while strengthening the professional pipeline in women’s soccer, and we’re grateful for Northern Lights’ partnership in driving forward this mission.”

Fans can join the movement by becoming Northern Lights Collective members—gaining access to exclusive content, special events, and unique athlete merchandise, all while directly supporting the athletes who inspire them. As part of this partnership, a percentage of every authentic  jersey sold will go directly to the collective — and ultimately, to Minnesota Aurora players.

About Northern Lights Collective 

Northern Lights Collective is committed to empowering women athletes by building mutually beneficial Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) partnerships that foster both personal and professional growth. Operating independently of Minnesota Aurora FC, Northern Lights Collective collaborates with businesses and fans to raise and manage funds and create NIL opportunities for our athletes. 

To become a member, explore sponsorship opportunities, or engage with our athletes through NIL partnerships, visit NLCNIL.com.