NCAA Settles Tennis Lawsuit, Allowing Prize Money for College Prospects

New rules aim to modernize NCAA amateurism policies across all sports

Apr. 13, 2026 at 6:13am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented tennis match, with sharp planes of color and overlapping perspectives capturing the dynamic energy of the sport.The NCAA's settlement of a landmark lawsuit could reshape the future of college sports, allowing athletes to keep more of the prize money they earn before enrolling.Columbia Today

The NCAA has reached a settlement in a class-action lawsuit filed by tennis player Reese Brantmeier, which will allow college prospects to keep professional prize money earned before enrolling. The proposed changes would create a $2 million fund for affected athletes and lift restrictions on pre-enrollment income, though the ban on accepting prize money during college remains.

Why it matters

This settlement represents a significant shift in the NCAA's approach to amateurism rules, which have long been criticized as outdated and unfairly favoring certain sports over others. The changes could have far-reaching implications for the future of college athletics, as the organization seeks to modernize its policies amid legal challenges and growing calls for athlete compensation.

The details

The lawsuit, led by Reese Brantmeier, a champion tennis player from the University of North Carolina, aimed to ensure that college athletes could keep the professional prize money they earned before and during their college careers. Currently, the NCAA only allows athletes to accept prize money up to their actual and necessary expenses, with a $10,000 cap for tennis players. Any additional prize money must be used for tournament expenses, and post-enrollment, it is attributed to annual expenses.

  • The NCAA Division I Cabinet is expected to vote on the proposed changes in mid-April 2026.
  • In 2024, Reese Brantmeier filed the class-action lawsuit against the NCAA.
  • Earlier this year, Columbia senior Michael Zheng qualified for the Australian Open and was allowed to keep his $150,000 in prize money due to the exception for athletes in their final year of eligibility.

The players

Reese Brantmeier

A champion tennis player from the University of North Carolina who led a class-action lawsuit against the NCAA to allow college prospects to keep professional prize money earned before enrolling.

Michael Zheng

A Columbia senior who qualified for the Australian Open this year and was allowed to keep his $150,000 in prize money due to the exception for athletes in their final year of eligibility.

NCAA

The governing body of college sports in the United States, which is facing legal challenges and calls for reform of its amateurism policies.

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What they’re saying

“The current system seems to favor certain sports over others, and that's not a sustainable model for the future of college athletics.”

— Author

“By restricting their ability to earn prize money, we're potentially limiting their opportunities and future prospects.”

— Author

What’s next

The Division I Cabinet is expected to vote on the proposed changes in mid-April 2026, which could have far-reaching implications for the future of college sports.

The takeaway

This settlement represents a significant step towards modernizing the NCAA's amateurism rules, which have long been criticized as outdated and unfairly favoring certain sports. The changes could pave the way for greater fairness and equality across all college sports, ensuring that talented young athletes are not limited in their opportunities to earn prize money and pursue their athletic dreams.