Is this the next Olivia Dunne? Meet Kate Faasse, the UNC soccer star who sent social media wild

Olivia Dunne has taken social media by storm since joining TikTok in 2020, amassing 13.2 million followers across the platform and Instagram. She’s quickly become one of the most valuable student athletes thanks to lucrative NIL deals.

But the 21-year-old LSU gymnast, who is considered the second-highest NIL earner behind Colorado quarterback Sheddeur Sanders ($4.8 million) at $3.9 million, could soon be dethroned by a certain University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill football player… Kate Faasse.

According to Barstool Sports, Faasse’s name went viral on X after an account called ‘College Cuties’ shared racy snaps from her Instagram account on the platform.

The post has been viewed nearly 3 million times since it was shared earlier this month on July 10.

Faasse — a rising junior at UNC — plays as a midfielder or forward for the Tar Heels, according to the team’s official website. She has scored two goals and added three assists in 23 games during the 2023 season, playing a total of 716 minutes.

The 21-year-old, who can also be deployed as a striker, will play in his third year at Chapel Hill

She first went viral after her snaps were shared on Instagram on X and a Barstool Sports story

Faasse still has some catching up to do, though, as Olivia Dunne’s NIL valuation has been set at $3.9 million

In 2022, the Phoenix, Arizona native scored and had two assists in 17 games played as a freshman.

Before attending college, Faasse scored 31 goals and had 12 assists in high school, despite missing her third season due to injury.

According to UNC’s website, she paints in her spare time in addition to playing soccer.

Faasse also comes from a family of top athletes: her mother was a track and field athlete at university and her grandfather was a professional baseball player.

The football player was born in 2004 and is just a year younger than Dunne, who will return to LSU in the fall to play for the Tigers’ gymnastics team for a fifth year.

Faasse – born in Phoenix, Arizona – scored twice and had three assists in 23 games for UNC in ’23

The football player was born in 2004 and is just a year younger than Dunne, who returns to LSU in September.

Dunne clearly has the upper hand when it comes to the number of followers on social media: 13.2 million versus 21.6 thousand

She is sponsored by Accelerator Active Energy (pictured with Travis Kelce), Vuori, Nautica, etc.

As long as Dunne remains at the university, it seems unlikely that anyone can dethrone her. That also applies to Faasse, who is not yet on On3’s NIL 100 list.

Dunne is the only woman in the top 10 of the list, followed by Flau’jae Johnson at number 12 with a rating of $1.2 million (zero).

Dunne can also count on her relationship with MLB All-Star Paul Skenes to boost her popularity as her boyfriend continues to impress the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The rookie pitcher made his red carpet debut at Dunne earlier this week.

Dunne has also built a modeling career through one of her NIL deals with Sports Illustrated. She is also endorsed by clothing brands American Eagle, Nautica, Vuori and energy drink Accelerator Active Energy, for which she starred in an ad with Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce.

Before attending university, Faasse (far left) scored 31 goals and provided 12 assists in high school

In addition to earning money from lucrative NIL deals, Dunne is also a model for Spots Illustrated

Dunne is also gaining popularity in baseball due to her romance with MLB’s Paul Skenes

Despite Faasse having no fewer than 21,600 followers on Instagram and TikTok, he is still far from overtaking Dunne.

But once Dunne completes her senior year in Baton Rouge, Faasse will see her popularity increase as much as the gymnast’s.

Time will tell.

Don’t drop your crown just yet, Livvy…