CHICAGO (July 8, 2026) – The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has entered into a three-year partnership with FanWord, the leading AI technology and storytelling company in college sports. Through the agreement, the Flames will implement FanWord Assist to strengthen and scale written storytelling across all 18 of the department's NCAA Division I programs.
 
FanWord Assist is a content creation platform built specifically for college athletics, helping communications teams accelerate the production of game recaps, feature stories, student-athlete profiles, season previews, and other written content. By leveraging college sports-specific artificial intelligence, UIC will be able to highlight more of its student-athletes, coaches, alumni and supporters with greater speed, efficiency and consistency while maintaining its editorial voice and commitment to authentic storytelling.
 
Building on the positive momentum across all of its athletics programs, UIC continues to invest in cutting-edge opportunities to engage with its fans, alumni and campus community. The department's multi-year collaboration with FanWord represents another step in its ongoing commitment to expand the reach of its storytelling efforts and creating greater visibility for all Flames student-athletes in the evolving landscape of college athletics.
 
"Every one of our student-athletes, coaches and programs has a story worth telling, and we are committed to finding innovative ways to share those stories with our fans, alumni and supporters," said Chris Masters, UIC Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Operations. "FanWord technology will allow our communications team to work more efficiently, maximize our resources and dedicate more time to creating impactful content that showcases the exceptional people who make UIC Athletics special. This partnership enhances our storytelling capabilities while allowing our staff to focus on the creative, strategic work that continues to elevate the Flames brand."
 
FanWord currently partners with more than 200 athletics organizations across all levels of collegiate athletics. UIC joins a growing network of NCAA Division I institutions utilizing the platform, including fellow Chicagoland programs DePaul and Chicago State, along with conferences such as the Horizon League and the Big West.
 
"UIC sits at the center of one of the country's most vibrant sports cities, and the Flames have meaningful stories to tell at every turn," said Chris Aumueller, CEO of FanWord. "We're proud to begin a multi-year partnership with UIC, and we look forward to helping their team share more of the moments and people that make their athletics community so distinctive."
 
As the demand for digital content continues to grow across college athletics, communications teams are challenged to produce more content than ever while maintaining quality and authenticity. By integrating FanWord into its daily workflow, UIC Athletics is well positioned to expand its storytelling efforts, increase operational efficiency and deliver more engaging content that celebrates the achievements and experiences of Flames student-athletes both on and off the field of play.
 
For more information on UIC Athletics, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UICFlames) and Instagram (@uicflames).
 
About UIC Athletics
The UIC Department of Intercollegiate Athletics supports 18 NCAA Division I sports programs comprised of nearly 300 student-athletes and more than 100 coaches and staff. Since earning NCAA Division I status in 1981, UIC has captured 80 conference championships and made 54 NCAA team and individual postseason appearances, while 21 Flames have achieved All-America status, 90 have been named conference Player of the Year and 63 coaches have earned conference Coach of the Year honors. In addition, UIC student-athletes have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for each of the past 24 semesters and boast a 91-percent graduation rate. The Flames are proud to compete in the Missouri Valley Conference, one of the nation's most respected leagues, both academically and athletically.
 
About FanWord
FanWord is one of the leading AI technology and storytelling companies in the college sports industry and works with more than 200 athletics organizations across all levels. To learn more about FanWord's software, FanWord Assist, click here.