Sport For Thought: Roc Nations Biggest Success Story Thus Far

Robinson Cano. Kevin Durant. Victor Cruz. Hakeem Nicks. Geno Smith. Skylar Diggins. CC Sabathia. James Young. Everything Jay Z touches turns to platinum, and Roc Nation Sports is no exception.

As Roc Nation Sports just celebrated its one year anniversary following much criticism and hoopla throughout the industry, I thought it would be appropriate to take a look back at their A-list clientele and discuss which star has been their biggest success.

When superstar and gold glove winning second baseman Robinson Cano signed on to Jay Z's representation, many speculated he was guaranteed to continue his residency with the New York Yankees. But when free agency arrived, Cano shocked the sports world with his mega deal worth $240 million to play with the Seattle Mariners for the next ten years of his career. As the first major contract finalized by Roc Nation Sports, the agency garnered much more respect for financially securing the future of their star. Although Cano is not putting up the same power numbers as last season playing in the hitter friendly Yankee Stadium, he still has provided the Mariners with a very respectable batting average above .300, slick defense, and leadership to the young team both on and off the field.

However, even with the success of Cano and all of the star athletes, none of them are recognized as Roc Nation's biggest success story. Instead, that title goes to the only female athlete signed to Jay Z's company thus far, WNBA star Skylar Diggins. Drafted by the Tulsa Shock, Diggins had a triumphant rookie season displaying why she is the new face of the WNBA. If you have yet to hear about the young, promising, and competitive star, it will not be long before you can't get her name out of your mouth. Finishing a successful rookie season and inspiring young girls across the country to stay active and play basketball, Skylar took a much different route then most other WNBA players.

At the conclusion of the season, most WNBA players go overseas where they receive a significantly higher salary than they receive playing in the US. As a business decision, for most athletes it seems like a no doubt decision, instead  of earning an average of $72,000 a season in the WNBA, players can earn closer to $1 million dollars playing overseas. When Diggins decided to stay in America during the offseason, it surprised many that she was not taking the common route to make more money. But after learning about her many endeavors in the US, it is no longer surprising. The Notre Dame graduate has become an entrepreneur and a face young girls can aspire to be like.

Rather then going overseas facing a hectic schedule in a not so luxurious hotel room, and an increased risk for injury due to poor playing conditions, Diggins remained in America to train and prepare for the season ahead, all while accomplishing her entrepreneur goals. From having a spread n Sports Illustrated to making appearances at many events including being one of the most tweeted about players from the Celebrity All-Star basketball game in New Orleans, Diggins is taking the world by storm. With endorsements by Nike and Sprint bringing in more money then she would have have earned overseas, it seems she has made all of the right decisions thus far. With her dominating play, signature headbands and fierce looks, Diggins has brought great appeal to not only the WNBA but all women's sports.

The Skylar Diggins brand is skyrocketing with the guidance of Roc Nation Sports, and she is a true success story with still a tremendous amount of potential ahead of her. A star has been born and it is time for the world to start paying attention to Skylar Diggins!

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Alexa Fontanella is a freshman Sport Management Major at Drexel University, from Totowa, NJ. This winter she will be working with Drexel Athletics on marketing strategies and game day operations for the Drexel Dragons basketball team. Alexa is looking forward to participating in her first co-op next fall and is excited for such an amazing opportunity. She is a huge New York Sports fan, specifically the Yankees and the Nets. 

Follow Alexa on Twitter @Lexa_Font4 and connect with her on LinkedIn.