Fighting for the Future: A College Tennis Star Takes on the NCAA

While you’re competing at the highest level, it can sometimes feel like the rules are stacked against you. For a lot of student-athletes, that’s exactly the case. University of North Carolina senior Reese Brantmeier is proving that you can be an elite competitor on the court while fighting for what’s right off of it. Even as she battles for a doubles title at the U.S. Open, she’s also in the middle of a class-action lawsuit against the NCAA to change a rule that is holding back college tennis players.

The lawsuit challenges an “out-of-date” rule that limits how much prize money you can keep from competing in professional tournaments. Currently, you can only keep up to $10,000 per year before you enroll in college. After that, you’re only allowed to keep money that covers your “actual and necessary expenses.” This rule forces athletes to make an impossible choice: give up prize money or give up your college eligibility.

Why It Matters to You

Brantmeier believes this rule is not only unfair but that it’s actively hurting college tennis. She says it’s turning talented players away from the sport because they can’t afford to walk away from significant prize money at a young age. Her own experience is a perfect example: she had to forfeit a large portion of nearly $50,000 she won at the 2021 U.S. Open just to be eligible to play for her college team.

While recent changes to Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies have helped, they haven’t fully addressed the issue for tennis players. Brantmeier is committed to seeing this fight through to the end, hoping that her efforts will allow future generations of players to make a more informed decision about their careers without having to sacrifice their earning potential. The lawsuit is a major step toward ensuring that you are fully compensated for the value you create, both on and off the court.