Nazlı Hilal Kaya graduated from Bilkent University Faculty of Law in Ankara, Turkey, in 2016. She was awarded a full scholarship based on her academic achievements during high school, where she completed the Cambridge IGCSE Program (2008–2010) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (2010–2012).

During her undergraduate studies (2012–2016), she gained experience in sports journalism, working as a Columnist for the sports department of GazeteBilkent, a News Editor at NFLTR, and a Sports Reporter for BilkentNews. Following graduation, she moved to İstanbul and became a registered lawyer with the Istanbul Bar Association in 2017.

Nazlı furthered her legal education by completing the Sports Law and Management Certificate Program at Kadir Has University (2014–2015) and the Competition Law Certificate Program at Bilgi University (2016–2017). In 2022, she began her master’s degree in Sports Sciences at Fenerbahçe University, where she continues her academic journey as an MSc candidate.

Professionally, she has worked as an Associate at Legal500-listed law firms and as Legal Counsel in the corporate sector. In July 2020, she founded her own law firm, STNZ LEGAL, in İstanbul. Her firm provides national and international clients with consultancy and litigation services in Commercial Law, Immigration Law, and Sports Law.

Between November 2023 and March 2024, she served as a Delegate at the Turkish Basketball Federation, where she inspected basketball games, venues, and spectators before, during, and after the game in accordance with TBF legislation, decisions, regulations, and practices.

Since October 2023, Nazlı has also been an active member of the WISLaw Events Committee, contributing to the organization of both online and in-person events aimed at strengthening the global network of women in sports law.

In January 2024, she joined the management team of a women’s football club in Antalya, Türkiye where she worked as a manager in the sponsorship department. This position marks her entry into the world of women’s football, a field she is enthusiastically exploring and learning about. She continues to work for different women's football teams in Türkiye to find sustainable financing solutions.

Nazlı has been volunteering with Kızlar Sahada (Girls on the Pitch)—a nonprofit focused on empowering women, girls, and youth in football—since early 2021. Between March 2021 and March 2022, she served as an Instructor in their online course "Sustainability in Sports," part of the Kotex-Kızlar Sahada Athlete Development Program. She continues to contribute to their projects.