NCAA Champion Fights for Athlete Rights

Reese Brantmeier, a senior tennis player, triumphed in the NCAA womens singles championship, defeating Berta Passola Folch in straight sets. This victory is remarkable as Brantmeier had never won an NCAA match before and was recovering from a serious meniscus tear. Her dominant performance showcased a new level of physicality, a result of creative off-court training during her recovery. Brantmeier is also the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against the NCAA, challenging the associations rule that caps collegiate tennis players professional prize earnings at ten thousand dollars per year. She suffered a bucket-handle meniscus tear in February 2024, requiring two surgeries and a year-long recovery. Despite re-tearing her meniscus during the NCAA Tournament in May, she played through the pain, eventually needing to be carried off the court in the quarterfinals. Her resilience and determination led her to this national title. The class-action lawsuit, certified in August, is scheduled for trial in late 2026 and could impact as many as twelve thousand athletes who competed in Division One tennis since March 19, 2020, or those who were unable to compete due to prize money restrictions. Brantmeier hopes the lawsuit will allow future athletes to pursue both professional earnings and collegiate education without having to choose. DNN | The Daily News Now! The world’s first global local news network. Every city. Every story. AI powered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.