Fairness and the Future of College Athletics
Having played Division I women’s volleyball at both the University of Wisconsin and Kansas State University, I truly value the importance of fairness in sports. All college athletics rely on the consistent enforcement of rules to ensure fair play, and that’s exactly why referees are critical—they help maintain the integrity of the game.
Student-athletes’ rights regarding their name, image, and likeness (NIL) should be addressed with the same care, and that’s what the bipartisan Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Recognition (SCORE) Act aims to achieve.
For years now, student-athletes have had to deal with a complicated system lacking clear guidelines. While the expansion of NIL rights has finally afforded these young athletes a long-overdue opportunity to profit from their talents, its initial implementation has been quite uneven, leading to confusion and uncertainty.
The current landscape is a mess—filled with constant litigation, varying state laws governing NIL, and schools looking for any competitive edge. This ongoing regulatory situation isn’t fair to the over 500,000 student-athletes participating in college sports every year.
Congress is the only body that can intervene to establish the uniformity, stability, and fairness that student-athletes demand.
I worry particularly about how the NIL impacts lesser-known sports, like the one I played, if no corrective measures are taken.
Women’s and Olympic sports are often the first to feel the sting of budget cuts during financial strain. These programs reflect the diversity that makes collegiate athletics special and help to groom elite athletes for international competition. Take volleyball, for instance. The U.S. women’s indoor volleyball team for the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics consists entirely of college players.
We can’t rely on courts or state agencies to fix these long-standing issues; only Congress can put in place the uniformity and fairness needed. Recently, commissioners from Divisions I, II, and III—which include schools of every size—sent a letter to lawmakers, urging them to take action.
I’m encouraged to see the SCORE Act gaining traction and moving toward a vote. This proposed legislation would set enforceable national standards that promote fairness while ensuring the educational focus of college sports. It also includes protections for women’s and Olympic sports, as well as commitments to healthcare and athlete welfare.
Another significant aspect of this bill concerns employment status. When I went to Kansas, my aim was straightforward: earn my degree while excelling in sports. I never envisioned myself becoming a staff member at the university—it’s not a common path for athletes or schools.
Transitioning college sports to an employer-employee dynamic could have detrimental effects, shifting coach-athlete relationships from mentorship to business transactions.
Recognizing the significance of college sports as an American institution—which nurtures values like teamwork and dedication—lawmakers need to act. Without legislative efforts, those ideals become empty words. Delays in addressing these concerns risk the decline of major sports programs, reduced athletic scholarships, and fewer young people gaining access to higher education through athletics.
College sports can truly thrive only when there’s a balance between fair competition and academic opportunities. This is the essence of what the SCORE Act is striving for.
As we near our nation’s 250th anniversary, it’s crucial to bolster all institutions that define us and equip the next generation of leaders. Revitalizing the mission of college athletics and implementing federal NIL reform is where it all starts.
