Members of Congress request answers from NCAA on pay equity for female athletes

Chip Alexander, The News & Observer (Raleigh) on Aug 15, 2025

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RALEIGH, N.C. — The new era of college athletics, with revenue sharing for athletes, has drawn questions about how equitably the new monies will be split and how it could affect women’s sports.

Ten members of Congress, led by Deborah Ross (D-NC) and Lori Trahan (D-MA), on Thursday made a request to the NCAA to clarify the impact the House vs NCAA settlement could have on women’s sports.

Under the terms of the historic settlement, colleges are working under a $20.5 million “salary cap” in the 2025-26 school year, with the money paid by the school’s athletic department directly to the athletes. Most of that money — 75% or more at many schools — are going to the school’s football teams.

Another part of the House settlement directed that $2.8 billion be paid to athletes who were denied the ability to use their name, image and likeness to earn money during their college careers. About 90% would be paid to former male athletes, mostly football and men’s basketball players.

The payment of the back damages was paused because of a Title IX lawsuit that contends women athletes would be denied equitable shares of the funds.

In a letter sent to the NCAA by the eight members of Congress, questions to be answered included:

— Will the NCAA “encourage” schools to distribute the revenue-share money equitably?

— With male athletes likely to receive NIL money from third-party organizations “not bound by Title IX,” will the NCAA refocus its investments in women’s sports to “counteract” the disparity?

— With the elimination of scholarship limits and with new roster caps, there will be additional scholarships available for women athletes. The question to the NCAA: How that could increase overall funding for women’s sports in Division I?

— How will the NCAA educate athletes about the House settlement and revenue sharing, and about the rights they might forfeit in signing contracts with schools?

— After the back damages issue has been resolved in court, how will the NCAA ensure that the funds are distributed equitably between men’s and women’s athletes?

The letter to the NCAA was signed by Reps. Ross, Trahan, Nikema Williams (D-GA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Jerry Nadler, (D-NY), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Jennifer McClellan (D-VA).

The Congressional group, in the letter, said: “As the House v. NCAA settlement is finalized and implemented, we stand ready to work with you to promote equitable opportunity in college athletics for women.”