Coming across the country from Portland, Oregon, to Morgan State University, Bears softball player Mia Ewell was motivated to become an asset to the city of Baltimore and the young ladies who call Charm City home.
MSU’s junior starting shortstop has found what she was looking for in H&R Block’s “A Fair Shot” program, which provides assistance to women’s college athletes with their sponsorship deals related to Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). She is committed to making an impact in her new home.
“Since I’ve moved to Baltimore, I’ve noticed there’s a tremendous difference in the lives and experiences of the youth here and back in Portland,” Ewell says. “Although I’m not from here and had a different childhood, I hope that I can show them that there are opportunities in Baltimore that these young girls can achieve if they hold themselves to a higher standard and believe in themselves.”
Ewell’s NIL deal through A Fair Shot is designed to inspire and motivate Black girls throughout Baltimore and beyond to see their potential, know their worth, and educate all athletes on the tax implications surrounding their NIL deals.
Ewell learned about the “A Fair Shot” program through the sports agency PlayBooked. Ewell saw it as an opportunity to uplift female athletes and help spread awareness about the importance of taxes for athletes with NIL income and how H&R Block can support them.
“My goal is to serve as an authentic example of a student-athlete. I don’t want other young women to only view me as ‘perfect,’ as my imperfections are also a part of who I am,” she explains.
“When it comes to taxes, there was so much I had to learn and am still learning. Taxes can be daunting for young people, but I want to encourage young girls to reach out for help. We all need encouragement, and there is nothing we can’t achieve as long as we have a community to support us.”
The Fair Shot program aims to balance out the inequities that women’s college athletes face, not just in their respective sports but also in the NIL space, where male athletes sometimes receive more deals and more compensation per deal than female athletes.
“It’s clear society’s attitudes towards women’s sports need to change. I strongly believe that people have a negative bias towards women’s sports and that’s why female athletes are getting overlooked for NIL deals,” Ewell says. “Proper representation is vital for aspiring athletes, and if we continue treating female athletes as inferior, it can dissuade young women who dream of playing professional sports.”
That’s where the Fair Shot program comes in, to assist women’s athletes with closing the gap in how they’re viewed as athletes and as spokespersons/brands.
Ewell suggests, “To close the gap, companies need to actively partner with female athletes to represent their brand. Offering equal compensation and support are also pressing needs because our efforts deserve to be recognized, too – regardless of gender. I’m thankful that H&R Block has taken the initiative to give this topic a platform to be addressed on national and local levels.”
Ewell is grateful for the partnership with H&R Block, which gives her visibility and a platform to make a difference in Baltimore and beyond.
“It has made me more recognizable for people who live in this community because I’m not just an athlete from Oregon. I’m an athlete from Oregon that is taking opportunities to excel in a new environment,” she says. “This program has increased female athletes’ self-confidence and given us a platform to continue promoting gender equality. It will also help change biased mindsets that people have towards female athletes.”
