NCAA Tennis Prize Money Settlement

Who is included in the two classes?

• The Injunctive Relief Class covers people who competed in Division I tennis during the stated period, as well as people who were barred from Division I tennis because of the Prize Money Rules.
• The Damages Class is narrower. A person must have voluntarily given up Prize Money earned in a tennis tournament during the class period and must also have either competed in Division I tennis or provided information to the NCAA Eligibility Center.
• A person may fall into both classes. Only Damages Class members can seek a money payment, and they must file a claim.

How is a damages payment calculated?

• The money is not a fixed amount per person. Each approved claim receives a share of the $2 million fund based on that person’s approved forfeited Prize Money compared with the total approved forfeited Prize Money claimed by all approved Damages Class members.
• For this calculation, forfeited Prize Money does not include expense reimbursements from tournament organizers, taxes, stipends, grants, or per diems.
• The notice does not state an estimated payment amount.

What is needed to make a claim for money?

• To request a damages payment, submit a Claim Form by February 8, 2027, unless the Court extends that deadline.
• The claim must include a valid NCAA ID number and adequate documents for every tournament where Prize Money was forfeited.
• If the administrator finds missing information, it will notify the claimant. The claimant then has 30 days from the date the notice is sent to provide additional information.

What rule change does the settlement provide?

• The NCAA agreed to change its rules for people before their initial full-time college enrollment. Under the revised rule, they may accept prize money based on place or performance if it comes from the event sponsor.
• The notice says this change is treated as effective for pre-enrollment student-athletes starting February 25, 2026.
• The settlement does not remove the NCAA’s current Prize Money restrictions for people after they initially enroll full time in college.

Can I leave the settlement?

• Damages Class members may ask to be excluded from the money settlement by September 28, 2026. An exclusion request must be sent by physical mail or email and include the information listed in the notice, including a signature and the amount of Prize Money forfeited.
• Someone who excludes themselves cannot receive a settlement payment or object to the settlement. They may retain the ability to sue the NCAA on their own about the damages claims, at their own expense.
• Injunctive Relief Class members cannot exclude themselves from the injunctive settlement.

What happens if I do nothing?

• A Damages Class member who does nothing will not receive money because a Claim Form is required. Unless that person timely excludes themselves, they are still bound by the settlement.
• Class members who do not opt out of the Damages Class release specified damages claims that accrued on or before November 21, 2025 and were or could have been asserted in this case. The notice says damages claims accruing after the initial notice distribution date are not released.
• Injunctive Class members are bound by the settlement.

When could payments be sent?

• The Court is scheduled to consider approval on January 8, 2027. The notice does not promise that payments will be sent on that date.
• Payments can be sent only after a final judgment is entered and all settlement-related objections, challenges, and appeals have been fully resolved. The administrator would then be directed to send payments promptly.