University of North Carolina senior Reese Brantmeier won the NCAA Division I national championship Sunday by defeating UC Berkeley’s Berta Passola Folch in a dominant straight-set performance.
If you know Brantmeier’s history, let the irony sink in. If you don’t know her history, here it is: Brantmeier has an active lawsuit against the NCAA that could reshape the future of college tennis. She is part of a class-action lawsuit challenging a rule that allows college tennis players to earn only $10,000 in prize money before enrolling in school.
Background of the Lawsuit
An exercise science and studio art double major, Brantmeier also is minoring in global cinema at North Carolina. Even before she arrived in college, she earned $50,000 while playing in the 2021 US Open as a high school student.
But NCAA rules at the time allowed her to keep only $10,000. Once athletes enroll in college, the rules are even more stringent. College athletes can keep prize money only equal to their actual travel and equipment costs, and anything extra must be forfeited.
Brantmeier and others involved in the class-action suit claim that causes an unfair financial burden for those who perform well in professional tournaments. They argue the NCAA’s limits violate antitrust laws.
Potential Impact on College Tennis
They also point to a contradiction — athletes are allowed to earn money through NIL (Name, Image and Likeness)deals, but aren’t allowed to keep all the money they earn through competition. If the lawsuit is successful, it could be a game changer for college tennis. A trial for the suit is scheduled for late 2026.
RallyFuel NIL angle: Brantmeier’s championship amplifies her NIL valuation overnight — especially as the public face of a lawsuit that could redefine how tennis athletes earn money. Her marketability, visibility, and legal significance all spike at once.
Brantmeier wasn’t the only one from a North Carolina school to win a national championship over the weekend. NC State’s Gabbi Broadfoot and Tori Osuigwe won the NCAA doubles title with a win over Vanderbilt’s Sophia Webster and Celina-Belle Mohr, 7-5, 6-4.
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