Rice Sport Law students competed in the 2026 Tulane Professional Basketball Negotiation Competition in late February. Run by the Tulane Law Society, the competition brought together undergraduate and law students from across the country to participate in simulated contract negotiations based on real-world professional basketball scenarios. Participants represent either an NBA team or an upcoming free agent, receiving confidential objectives that guide their strategy while Industry professionals serve as judges.
Rice was represented by Maya Moise ’26, Owen Marye ’27, Aly Kahnmohamed ’27, and Trent Gorsich ’29. They were the first undergraduate team Rice has ever sent to the competition, and one of only two undergrad teams in the competition this year. The other 56 teams were primarily composed of JD students.
“Competing in the Tulane Professional Basketball Negotiation Competition represents a major milestone for the growth of sport law at Rice,” Moise said. “But for us, it was about more than just competing. It was about demonstrating that undergraduates can meaningfully participate in spaces traditionally reserved for graduate students and legal professionals.”
The team was coached by Joe Branch (MBA ’04), Head of On-Court Basketball Strategy & Business Development at WME Sports, and Rice Professor Stephanie Wilka.
“Working with Joe Branch had a tremendous impact on our preparation and mindset going into the competition,” Moise said. “He helped us think about negotiations in a much more practical and strategic way. And, his mentorship helped give us the confidence to step into those rooms knowing that we belonged there."
The teams' preparation was divided across key areas, including salary cap structure, player market value, and negotiation strategy, while also incorporating storytelling elements to strengthen arguments.
“Our preparation ultimately became a balance between legal understanding and strategic thinking,” Moise said. “We quickly realized that negotiation strategy relied heavily on leverage, market dynamics, and long-term team positioning. And in many cases, framing the conversation around a player’s trajectory, leadership, or role within a franchise became just as important as the numbers themselves."
As one of the youngest teams in the competition, the group approached the experience with both ambition and perspective.
“The most rewarding part of the experience was being able to represent Rice and showcase the work being done within our sport law program,” Moise said. “We're not just negotiating for two days; we're proving that undergraduates belong in these spaces and that Rice students can compete in rooms traditionally reserved for law schools.”
Sergio Rojas, a senior from Houston, Texas, is double-majoring in Business with a concentration in Finance and Sport Management with a concentration in Leadership.