UNC women’s tennis player’s prize money suit versus NCAA ruled a class action
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- Federal judge certifies Reese Brantmeier’s NCAA lawsuit as class action suit
- Class includes Division I tennis players affected by NCAA prize money rules
- If no settlement is reached, court will set trial for summer of 2026
North Carolina women’s tennis star Reese Brantmeier’s lawsuit against the NCAA officially received class action certification on Monday, green-lighting the next stage of her litigation efforts.
Federal judge Catherine Eagles’ opinion and order certified the classes as a Division I tennis player who 1) was ineligible to compete due to prize money rules between March 19, 2020, and the decision of this suit or 2) who voluntarily forfeited prize money from a tennis tournament and submitted information to the NCAA Eligibility Center within the same dates.
With the certification, a notice will be created to share with people falling under the criteria approved by Eagles, and if a settlement is not reached, a trial date in the summer of 2026 will be selected, according to court documents.
Brantmeier, a rising senior at UNC and the 2024 ACC Player of the Year, is joined by Maya Joint, formerly from Texas, as class representatives.
Brantmeier earned nearly $50,000 in prize money at the U.S. Open — a tournament she recently qualified for again — prior to coming to UNC in 2022, but forfeited the money in order to maintain her college eligibility. Similarly, Joint turned down tens of thousands of dollars when she entered her freshman year, but ultimately decided to go pro shortly before her first spring season in 2024.
Current NCAA prize money regulations hold that athletes can accept up to $10,000 per calendar year prior to enrollment, but beyond that, only funds that cover “actual and necessary expenses” from competing in these professional-level tournaments can be accepted. Brantmeier was ineligible the fall of her freshman season due a dispute with the NCAA over whether her U.S. Open expenses fell under this criteria.
The NCAA and Brantmeier’s attorneys did not immediatey respond to requests for comment on Monday night.
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This story was originally published July 28, 2025 at 7:19 PM with the headline "UNC women’s tennis player’s prize money suit versus NCAA ruled a class action."