Collegiate athletes, regardless of sport, will be able to accept prize money before they enroll in college under the terms of a proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit brought by North Carolina women’s tennis star Reese Brantmeier against the NCAA.
As reported by Brian Murphy of NBC affiliate WRAL in Raleigh, the NCAA agreed to pay $2.02 million in damages, which includes a $10,000 special award for Brantmeier, a UNC senior, and former Texas tennis player Maya Joint, the two named plaintiffs in the suit. The NCAA is also paying more than $2 million in attorneys’ fees, administrative costs and other costs, Murphy reported.
Related: NCAA Hit With Another Lawsuit, This Time Over Student-Athlete Prize Money
"Brantmeier first filed her complaint against the NCAA in March 2024 over the NCAA’s restrictions on all individual athletes — in sports such as tennis, golf, swimming, track and field, wrestling, gymnastics, bowling, equestrian, skiing and rifle — keeping prize money won in outside competitions," Murphy wrote.
"She amended the complaint in November 2024 limited to just Division I tennis players. In July 2025, the judge certified an injunctive relief class and a damages class to include all NCAA Division I tennis players who were ineligible to compete due to the prize money rules or who forfeited money due the rules. In February, the sides announced they had reached a settlement."
Prior to the settlement, NCAA rules had prohibited tennis players from accepting more than $10,000 per calendar year in cash awards, bonuses or other prize money for performance in non-NCAA competition such as the U.S. Open, according to Murphy. After enrollment, they are limited to actual and necessary expenses under current NCAA rules.
Though the class included only tennis players, the NCAA is lifting its prize money restrictions for all athletes, according to the proposed settlement agreed to by the plaintiffs and the NCAA. A judge must give final approval, per Murphy's report.
