Breaking News: Jason Robbins Announces Engagement to Kentucky Women’s Basketball Star

Lexington, KY — April 12, 2025

In a heartwarming turn that has swept across the world of college basketball and beyond, Jason Robbins — a rising name in the world of sports business — has announced his engagement to standout Kentucky women’s basketball player, Taylor “Tay” Daniels.

The couple revealed the news via a joint Instagram post late Friday evening, showing Robbins on one knee at Rupp Arena with a custom-designed diamond ring and a massive grin. Daniels, clearly overcome with emotion, stood with hands over her mouth before eventually saying yes — all captured in a stunning photo montage.

As fans, teammates, and public figures flooded social media with congratulatory messages, the engagement has quickly become one of the most talked-about sports-adjacent stories of the spring.

A Modern-Day Sports Power Couple

Jason Robbins, 27, is best known for his rapid rise in the sports and entertainment business world. The founder and CEO of NextPlay, a company that specializes in NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) branding and athlete marketing, Robbins has been a significant figure behind several high-profile college athlete endorsement deals. His work has connected athletes to national campaigns and helped reshape how young stars leverage their visibility in the modern era.

Meanwhile, Taylor Daniels, 21, is no stranger to headlines herself. The Kentucky Wildcats guard is coming off a breakout junior season where she averaged 17.4 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game. She was named First-Team All-SEC and led the Wildcats to their first Elite Eight appearance since 2013.

Daniels, already considered a likely first-round pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, is one of the most recognizable faces in women’s college basketball — and now, part of a sports-centric engagement that has fans buzzing.

The Proposal: A Rupp Arena Fairytale

The proposal, according to sources close to the couple, was weeks in the making. Robbins reportedly reached out to University of Kentucky staff to arrange a private moment on the court at Rupp Arena — a location that holds significant meaning to Daniels, who’s had some of her best performances on that very floor.

“He knew that Rupp was sacred to her,” said a friend of Daniels. “It’s not just where she plays — it’s where she made her name. To propose there? That’s real love.”

According to a behind-the-scenes video shared by one of Robbins’ close friends, Robbins had Daniels’ favorite R&B artist playing over the sound system. As she walked onto the dimly lit court expecting a simple photo shoot for a UK media day, the big screen lit up with a message: “Forever Starts Here.”

That’s when Robbins walked out, ring in hand, and dropped to one knee.

Social Media Eruption

It didn’t take long for the engagement to dominate trending topics on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok. Within two hours of posting the announcement, Daniels’ Instagram story had over 1.2 million views.

Fellow athletes and celebrities weighed in:

• Angel Reese: “Love is beautiful! Congrats Tay! 💍🔥”
• Paige Bueckers: “About time, LOL. Proud of you both. #PowerCouple”
• Drake (notably a huge Kentucky basketball supporter): “W for Big Blue Nation. That boy Robbins went crazy with that one.”

Even ESPN’s SportsCenter ran a special segment on the proposal, calling the couple “a symbol of the new age of college sports, where love, brand, and basketball intersect.”

From NIL to “I Do”

Robbins and Daniels first met in early 2023 at an NIL seminar hosted in Lexington. Daniels had just started working with a new agency to explore endorsement opportunities, and Robbins was a guest speaker. According to both, the chemistry was instant.

“We just clicked,” Daniels told SLAM Magazine in a feature last summer. “It started as a conversation about purpose — and somehow we never stopped talking.”

From business dinners to road trips during the offseason, the two gradually became inseparable. Robbins, despite his high-profile job, often made time to attend Daniels’ games and support her behind the scenes.

“He never made it about him,” said Kentucky head coach Kyra Elzy. “He just wanted her to shine. And as a coach, you respect that.”

A Season to Remember

The engagement comes on the heels of Daniels’ most impressive college season to date. Her buzzer-beater against LSU in the SEC semifinals was one of the most viral clips of the year and earned her a spot on SportsCenter’s Top 10 for three consecutive days. Her leadership and clutch performances drew comparisons to past Kentucky legends like A’dia Mathies and Makayla Epps.

“She’s built different,” Elzy said during March Madness. “And she’s just getting started.”

Daniels, who still has one more season of NCAA eligibility, announced earlier this month she would return for her senior year. She cited “unfinished business” as her primary reason — though fans now speculate whether the engagement also played a role in keeping her in Lexington a bit longer.

Balancing Stardom and Love

Despite the glamour of their lives, Robbins and Daniels have emphasized balance and privacy throughout their relationship. In rare interviews, they’ve talked about setting boundaries — including no business talk after 8 p.m. and dedicated “offline weekends” every month.

“Just because we’re in the spotlight doesn’t mean our relationship has to be,” Robbins once told The Players’ Tribune. “She’s my best friend first — everything else is just noise.”

The couple also started a joint initiative in 2024 called Blueprints & Buckets, a mentorship program that connects young athletes — especially women — with guidance on financial literacy, personal branding, and mental health. The program has already served over 1,000 high school athletes across the southeast.

What’s Next for the Couple?

While no wedding date has been officially set, Robbins confirmed in a statement to The Athletic that the couple plans to wed after Daniels’ senior season.

“We want to enjoy this next year,” Robbins said. “She’s got a national championship to chase. I’ll be there every step of the way — on the sidelines, in the stands, cheering like crazy.”

Fans are already speculating whether the wedding will take place in Lexington, Robbins’ native Atlanta, or even a destination ceremony. Sources close to the couple hinted they’ve discussed a post-season ceremony in the Bahamas, where the two vacationed together last summer.

Daniels, ever focused on basketball, seems determined not to let the engagement distract from her goals.

“This is a beautiful moment in my life,” she said in a video shared to her Instagram. “But trust — I’m still in the gym every morning at 6. That’s not changing.”

Impact Beyond Basketball

The engagement of Robbins and Daniels represents more than a love story — it’s a marker of how much the culture of college sports has changed. No longer confined to locker rooms and practice courts, players now operate in the broader worlds of media, business, and public life.

“They are a couple of the NIL era,” said Jemele Hill on her podcast. “She’s dominating on the court. He’s building empires off of it. Together, they’re redefining what it means to be a student-athlete and a power couple.”

Even some of Robbins’ clients — including NFL rookie Bryce McClellan and track star Journee Williams — have taken inspiration from the relationship, calling it a “blueprint for how to balance business and love in the spotlight.”

Kentucky Fans Embrace the Moment

For Big Blue Nation, the engagement is just one more reason to rally around Daniels and the Wildcats. Already beloved for her fiery spirit, community outreach, and highlight-reel plays, Daniels’ personal win off the court has endeared her even more to Kentucky fans.

Rupp Arena staff even surprised Daniels with a locker room filled with flowers, balloons, and a custom jersey that read: “Future Mrs. Robbins.”

Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart released a statement congratulating the couple: “We are thrilled for Taylor and Jason. Their union reflects the spirit of excellence, determination, and leadership that defines Kentucky Athletics.”

Final Thoughts

In an era where headlines often center around scandals or controversy, the engagement of Jason Robbins and Taylor Daniels is a refreshing, feel-good story that transcends the typical sports news cycle. It’s about love, partnership, and shared ambition.

For Robbins, it’s a personal win in the midst of a career full of professional triumphs.

For Daniels, it’s another chapter in a life defined by defying expectations — on and off the hardwood.

And for fans? It’s a front-row seat to one of the most promising power couples in modern college sports.

As one Wildcats fan put it on X:
“She already had the heart of Kentucky. Now she’s got the ring to match.”