NCAA To Pay Two Tennis Players Millions, Tweak Prize Money Rules

Athletes can now accept prize money before enrolling in college after the NCAA struck a landmark settlement with a pair of tennis stars.

In addition to the rule change, the NCAA has agreed to pay out $2 million each to North Carolina tennis star Reese Brantmeier and former University of Texas player Maya Joint. The NCAA will also pay nearly $1.9 million in attorney fees and reimburse $425,000 for class counsel fees, once the settlement is approved by a federal judge.

Brantmeier and Joint will also receive “service awards” worth $10,000 apiece.

Brantmeier sued the NCAA in 2024 after she won $50,000 at the 2021 US Open but was unable to collect and maintain her eligibility to play college tennis. Joint, who played for the University of Texas, joined Brantmeier’s lawsuit late last year after she won $140,000 at the 2024 US Open. Joint has since turned pro and is ranked No. 29 in the world.

The settlement reads:

“The NCAA will revise its Prize Money Rules to eliminate any restrictions on student-athletes’ acceptance of Prize Money prior to initial, full-time collegiate enrollment … The NCAA’s rule change will benefit student-athletes competing in all sports − not just tennis.

“The elimination of such restrictions for pre-college enrollment tennis student-athletes became effective as of February 25, 2026. … Upon this Court’s final approval of the Settlement, the NCAA will be enjoined from reinstating the pre-college enrollment Prize Money Rules that existed prior to the Settlement.”

The prize money rule change was made immediately after the two sides agreed to a settlement in February. At the time, the details of the settlement were not revealed and the parties had 60 days to submit settlement terms to the court.

Earlier this month, the NCAA announced that it would adopt several proposed rule changes, including a change that would allow student-athletes to “accept prize money in their respective sports without impacting eligibility” before full-time collegiate enrollment. The announcement said that the rule change was a result of the class action lawsuit filed by Brantmeier and Joint.