Women Athletes to Challenge House vs. NCAA Settlement Over Title IX Violations: What You Need to Know

It was bound to happen. Just days after California judge Claudia Wilken approved the significant House v. NCAA settlement, a group of women athletes filed an appeal claiming it breaches Title IX. Amanda Christovich from Front Office Sports reported on this development.

The athletes argue that the House settlement, which ends the NCAA’s long-standing “amateurism” model and allows Division I schools to financially compensate student-athletes, does not properly address Title IX, the gender equity law. They point out that the settlement allocates $2.4 billion for men and only $102 million for women. Attorney Leigh Ernst Friestedt stated, “This significant disparity constitutes a violation of Title IX.”

The appeal was submitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and includes names like Vanderbilt runner Kacie Breeding and several athletes from the College of Charleston and Virginia.

It’s important to note that while this appeal won’t affect future revenue-sharing plans, it could delay the distribution of a significant $2.8 billion payment intended for college athletes from 2016 to 2024 who agreed to the settlement. Instead of risking up to $20 billion in damages, the NCAA and major conference officials settled for a 10-year agreement to pay $2.776 billion. This breaks down to about $277 million annually, mainly funded by reducing distributions to participating schools.

Moreover, the settlement introduces new regulations on college sports. The NIL Go program, set up by Deloitte, will oversee deals worth $600 or more. If a deal isn’t approved, it may lead to athletes being deemed ineligible or schools facing fines. Deloitte’s recent findings suggested that 70% of past deals from NIL collectives would have been rejected under these new rules.

Starting July 1, Power conference schools and others that join the settlement can share up to $20.5 million with athletes, with football taking the largest share, estimated at 75%. This annual revenue sharing is expected to grow over time. Additionally, Power conference football programs might have an extra $13-16 million to spend on their teams starting in 2025.

This moment shows the ongoing struggle for gender equity in sports. User reactions on social media reveal a mix of support and criticism regarding the settlement’s fairness. As the appeal unfolds, the stakes are high not only for the athletes involved but also for the future of college sports.

For reliable updates on this developing story, check sources like CBS Sports and Front Office Sports.

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