Talking NIL and women's hockey in Minnesota with Heather Rule

In this episode of the Athlete Brand Advisor Podcast, host Greg Glynn sits down with Heather Rule to explore the evolving world of sports journalism, the rapid growth of women’s ice hockey, and how athletes are becoming powerful influencers through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).

Heather shares her journey from general news reporting into sports journalism, her experience covering Minnesota’s iconic hockey scene, and her passion for telling underrepresented athlete stories. The conversation also dives into Heather’s work as a children’s book author, including her latest book focused on NIL and how it’s reshaping opportunities—especially for women athletes.

Heather Rule is an award-winning freelance sports journalist based in the suburbs of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. She has covered professional, collegiate, and high school sports for a wide range of media outlets, with a strong focus on women’s ice hockey. In addition to her reporting, Heather is the author of 13 non-fiction children’s sports books, many of which are featured in school libraries and focus on topics such as women in sports, the Olympics, and athletes as influencers. She is also the lead writer behind The Written Rule of Sports, a platform dedicated to thoughtful, in-depth sports storytelling.

🎧 Episode Overview

🏒 Key Topics Discussed

• Heather’s Path Into Sports Journalism

Heather reflects on her early career in news reporting and how she transitioned into sports journalism, ultimately carving out a niche covering hockey at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels across Minnesota.

• Covering Women’s Ice Hockey in Minnesota

Greg and Heather discuss the growth of women’s hockey over the past decade, including improvements in skill level, physicality, visibility, and leadership opportunities. They also touch on the importance of Minnesota high school hockey as a developmental and cultural pipeline.

• Athletes Transitioning Into Media Careers

The conversation explores how former athletes are well-positioned to enter sports journalism, content creation, and media roles after their playing careers end.

• The Written Rule of Sports & Substack Launch

Heather explains why she launched her Substack under The Written Rule of Sports, aiming to provide deeper coverage of sports and athletes that often receive limited mainstream attention.

• Spotlight on Influencers in Women’s Hockey

Heather shares insights from her in-depth profile of Winnie Brodt- Brown, a major influencer and leader in Minnesota women’s hockey, highlighting the research and storytelling that went into the piece.

• Writing Children’s Sports Books

Heather discusses her work writing non-fiction sports books for school libraries, including series focused on women in sports, Olympic athletes, and sports history.

• NIL and Athletes as Influencers

A major theme of the episode centers on NIL and how it has changed the landscape for women’s sports. Heather and Greg discuss how NIL has allowed athletes to build brands, increase visibility, and generate income—often exceeding traditional earnings in women’s professional sports.

• Notable NIL Examples

The conversation references athletes like Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, and Simone Biles as examples of how NIL has unlocked new levels of opportunity and influence.

🎯 Key Takeaways for Athletes & Brands

Storytelling is a powerful brand-building tool for athletes
Women’s sports are growing rapidly, but visibility remains critical
NIL allows athletes to monetize their platforms while staying focused on performance
Journalists and content creators play a key role in elevating underrepresented sports
Athletes should think long-term about career paths beyond competition

🔜 What’s Next

Heather shared that she is currently:

Working on a new children’s sports book
Writing non-sports features for an outdoor and hunting magazine
Continuing to expand coverage through The Written Rule of Sports

📬 Connect with Heather Rule

🌐 Website: https://www.heatherrule.com
📰 Substack: The Written Rule of Sports
📧 Email: heatherrule@gmail.com
📱 X (Twitter): @HeatherRule
📸 Instagram: @heather_rule

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