News Summary
Kacie Breeding, a former Vanderbilt distance runner, leads eight female athletes appealing the House v. NCAA settlement, claiming it violates Title IX. The $2.8 billion backpay primarily benefits male athletes, allocating only 5% to female athletes. This disparity raises concerns about financial equity in college sports and the ongoing battle for fair compensation for women athletes. While backpay distribution is on hold during the appeal process, the settlement’s revenue-sharing initiative is expected to continue.
Nashville, TN – Kacie Breeding, a former distance runner at Vanderbilt University, is leading a group of eight female athletes in an appeal against the recent House v. NCAA settlement. This settlement allocates $2.8 billion in backpay to former collegiate athletes affected by past restrictions on name, image, and likeness (NIL) earnings. However, the group contends that the settlement violates the federal Title IX statute, which mandates gender equity in education and athletics.
The challenge arises from the payment structure outlined in the settlement. Male athletes, particularly those in football and men’s basketball, are set to receive 90% of the total settlement, while female athletes, including those in women’s basketball, are allocated just 5%. Breeding and her fellow plaintiffs assert that this distribution is a significant breach of Title IX, as it represents a historical inequity in financial rewards based on gender.
Breeding, who completed her collegiate career with a personal best steeplechase time of 10:43.86 and graduated in 2020 with a 3.9 GPA in biomedical engineering, argues that the settlement effectively undermines the progress made towards equitable treatment of female athletes. The group’s attorney, John Clune, has pointed out that the calculations behind the proposed payment distribution are inaccurately skewed by an estimated $1.1 billion, a discrepancy that could have devastating effects on women’s sports.
The appeal is being pursued by Breeding along with seven other athletes from various universities, including Kate Johnson of the University of Virginia and representatives from the College of Charleston. These athletes are involved in multiple sports, including soccer, volleyball, and track, all of which are impacted by the settlement’s terms.
As of July 1, the backpay funds are set to commence distribution. However, all payments are currently on hold while the appeals process unfolds. While the backpay is facing legal scrutiny, the revenue-sharing initiative outlined in the settlement is expected to move forward unimpeded.
The House v. NCAA settlement, approved by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, was designed to compensate athletes for their inability to receive financial benefits from NIL opportunities prior to 2021. It aims to address systemic deficiencies in the financial treatment of student-athletes, which have historically favored male athletes over females. Vanderbilt University’s Chancellor, Daniel Diermeier, and Athletic Director Candice Story Lee have expressed the university’s support for the settlement. However, they affirmed their commitment to ensuring the resolution aligns with federal law and maintains fairness.
The central concern of Breeding and her fellow appellants is that the settlement’s structure insinuates that male athletes deserve financial rewards that do not adhere to the standards of gender equity established by Title IX. As a result, this appeal emphasizes the broader implications for women’s sports and the fight for equal treatment in collegiate athletics.
In conclusion, the outcome of this appeal has the potential to significantly alter the financial landscape of college sports, especially for female athletes. The appeal specifically targets the proportionality of the backpay portion of the settlement, with hopes of promoting fair compensation practices that align with Title IX regulations.
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Additional Resources
- Nashville Post
- Sports Illustrated
- Front Office Sports
- Sports Illustrated
- Forbes
- Wikipedia: Title IX
- Google Search: House v. NCAA settlement
- Google Scholar: House v. NCAA settlement
- Encyclopedia Britannica: NCAA
- Google News: House v. NCAA
Author: HERE Nashville
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