Two college tennis players have asked a North Carolina federal judge to certify a class of thousands of student-athletes affected by NCAA restrictions on accepting prize money from outside tournaments.
Reese Brantmeier, a junior at the University of North Carolina, and Maya Joint, a former University of Texas player, filed their request Friday, arguing that NCAA rules harm competition in Division I tennis by forcing elite players to choose between turning professional or sacrificing prize earnings.
Scope of the Class Action Lawsuit
The proposed class would include athletes who were forced to forfeit prize money or deemed ineligible for accepting funds. The NCAA’s regulations, which date back to March 2020, prevent tennis players from retaining most of their non-college tournament winnings while maintaining eligibility.
Brantmeier and Joint cited their own experiences:
- Brantmeier won over $40,000 at the 2021 U.S. Open qualifiers but was allowed to keep only a fraction.
- Joint had to forfeit $19,000 from Wimbledon 2024 qualifiers, leading her to withdraw from Texas’ tennis program.
The players argue that the NCAA’s policies discourage top talent from competing in Division I tennis, hurting the sport’s overall competitiveness.
Legal Background and NCAA Response
Brantmeier originally filed a broader antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA’s prize money rules, aiming to represent athletes in all non-revenue sports. However, after a court challenge, she narrowed her focus solely to collegiate tennis players.
