University of North Carolina tennis standout and current national singles champion Reese Brantmeier is involved in a major legal battle with the NCAA. The dispute centers on a set of rules that prohibit college athletes from keeping prize money earned at professional events such as the US Open. Former Texas player Maya Joint is also part of the lawsuit, challenging these financial limits and stating that the rules unfairly hurt athletes in individual sports.
Settlement Reached on Reese Brantmeier and NCAA Lawsuit
Lawyers representing the NCAA and the tennis players filed a joint document in federal court on Wednesday showing the two sides are ready to resolve the case. According to the filing in the Middle District of North Carolina, the parties agreed to a class-action lawsuit that will fully resolve the ongoing litigation.
Both sides asked the court for a 60-day delay on all current deadlines to give them enough time to finalize the details. This two-month gap allows the legal teams to finalize the settlement and prepare the formal approval documents required by the court.
This progress comes after a mediated settlement meeting took place in October 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Court papers confirm the two sides kept talking constructively after that meeting, which led directly to this week’s agreement. The current 60-day delay ends the current trial and shifts the focus entirely to closing the deal.
However, the specific financial details and rule changes in the settlement are not public yet, but the deal is a massive step for college tennis. The lawsuit claimed the NCAA’s prize-money caps violated antitrust laws by limiting how much student-athletes could earn. The court granted the requested window for the lawyers to present the finished terms, which will then need official approval from Chief US District Judge Catherine Eagles.
Financial Impact on College Students
The legal fight began because of strict NCAA limits on tournament payouts, which cap prize money at $10,000 per year before starting college, plus necessary travel expenses. Once enrolled, athletes can only take money to cover basic tournament costs.
Brantmeier filed the lawsuit in 2024 following her 2021 US Open campaign. While in high school, she earned nearly $50,000 but had to give up almost all of it to protect her college eligibility. The NCAA questioned her share of hotel costs and required a $5,100 charitable donation before she could play for UNC in 2023.
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Joint joined the complaint after winning about $140,000 at the 2024 US Open, ultimately turning professional shortly after. The case covers over 17,000 individuals who registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center since 2021, as well as players who surrendered their prize money.
Brantmeier believed these rules were deeply unfair compared to those of the other sports, which are more revenue-generating. This potential NCAA rule change could encourage more players to pursue professional tennis, altering how young stars map their careers.
