The NCAA has agreed to a sweeping change in its amateurism framework, settling a class action lawsuit brought by tennis players Reese Brantmeier and Maya Joint while committing more than $2 million in damages.
At the center of the case was a long-standing restriction that prevented prospective student-athletes from accepting prize money earned before enrolling in college without jeopardizing their eligibility. That rule has now been scrapped.
Under the proposed settlement — which still requires federal court approval — incoming athletes across all sports will be allowed to retain prize money earned prior to full-time collegiate enrollment. The rule change took effect on February 25, 2026, and the NCAA will be barred from reinstating the previous restrictions once the settlement is finalized.
The case was triggered when Brantmeier, then a rising junior player, was unable to collect $50,000 in prize money from the US Open in 2021 without sacrificing her college eligibility. Joint later joined the lawsuit after facing a similar issue, having earned $140,000 at the 2024 edition of the same tournament. She has since turned professional and is currently ranked inside the world’s top 30.
Financially, the settlement includes more than $2 million in payouts to affected athletes, alongside approximately $1.9 million in legal fees and $425,000 in additional class counsel costs. Both lead plaintiffs will receive service awards of $10,000.
Importantly, the NCAA is not altering its stance on prize money earned after athletes enroll in college. Under existing rules, student-athletes may still only accept prize money up to the value of their expenses, and only from event organizers.
The implications extend well beyond tennis. By removing pre-enrollment earning restrictions, the NCAA is effectively acknowledging the evolving economics of youth and amateur sport, where elite prospects often compete — and earn — at a professional level before entering the collegiate system.
For the NCAA, the move represents another step in a broader legal and commercial recalibration, as pressure mounts to modernize rules that increasingly clash with the realities of global athlete development pathways.