EAST LANSING — Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) is proud to announce the second cohort of its Women of Sparta program.
Women of Sparta was developed by MSUFCU to be a comprehensive NIL program for women’s sports at Michigan State University. It is designed to provide student-athletes with support beyond typical NIL deals, which are often focused solely on financial compensation.F
The 2025-2026 cohort features outstanding athletes from a variety of sports, showcasing the talent and dedication within MSU women’s athletics:
- Cross-country: Cookie Baugh (senior)
- Field Hockey: Madeline Lawlor (graduate student)
- Golf: Shannon Kennedy (senior)
- Soccer: Emerson Sargeant (senior)
- Softball: Britain Beshears (senior) and Payton Conroy (junior)
- Track and Field: Mia Rogan (junior)
- Basketball: Isaline Alexander (redshirt senior), Kennedy Blair (junior), Jalyn Brown (senior), Marah Dykstra (senior), Theryn Hallock (senior), Rashunda Jones (junior), Abbey Kimball (senior), Jordan Ode (freshman), Emma Shumate (senior), Inés Sotelo (sophomore), Amy Terrian (freshman), Anna Terrian (freshman), Grace VanSlooten (senior), and Juliann Woodard (sophomore).
“So glad to be back for another year representing MSUFCU in its Women of Sparta program!” shared Cookie Baugh in an Instagram post. “I’m so excited for another year of growth, competition, and representing a program that empowers female student-athletes both on and off the field.”
The Women of Sparta program offers financial education, personal branding workshops, mentorship programs, job shadowing, and internship opportunities. Offering more than traditional NIL arrangements, MSUFCU’s expanded program is dedicated to helping student-athletes build essential professional skills and achieve success in their future careers.
“This year’s Women of Sparta cohort exemplifies excellence on and off the field, demonstrating dedication, resilience, and leadership,” said April Clobes, President and CEO of MSUFCU. “We are proud to support them with opportunities to build leadership skills, gain financial education, and prepare for success as future leaders in their communities.”
MSUFCU has a rich history of supporting MSU women’s athletics, having partnered as a presenting sponsor of the MSU women’s basketball team for more than 10 years and offering NIL contracts for all eligible women’s basketball players for the past four years. This expanded initiative now includes opportunities for all women’s sports at MSU, reflecting the Credit Union’s commitment to fostering excellence and empowerment.
MSU coaches discuss the importance of this partnership in this video.
To learn more about the Women of Sparta program, visit msufcu.org/womenofsparta.
