Federal Judge Certifies Nationwide NCAA Tennis Prize Money Class Action

A federal judge in North Carolina has certified a class action lawsuit against the NCAA, allowing two former college tennis players, Reese Brantmeier and Maya Joint, to represent approximately 12,000 Division I tennis players nationwide in a legal challenge over the NCAA's restrictions on prize money. The plaintiffs argue that the NCAA's rules, which limit prize money acceptance to $10,000 per year and only cover necessary expenses, unlawfully restrain competition and harm players financially, with Joint having lost eligibility due to accepting excess prize money. Brantmeier forfeited nearly $50,000 in prize money to maintain eligibility, highlighting the financial sacrifices made under current regulations. The NCAA opposed class certification, citing individual differences among players and team composition concerns, but the judge ruled in favor of the class action proceeding. This lawsuit is part of a broader wave of legal challenges against the NCAA's compensation rules, including a recent $2.8 billion settlement allowing schools to pay athletes for the commercial use of their names and likenesses. If unresolved, a trial is expected in the summer of 2026.