The Impact of Athlete Compensation on Women’s Sports
Morgan State athletic director Dena Freeman-Patton faced a difficult decision when considering a new framework that allows colleges and universities to pay athletes directly. The $2.8 billion antitrust settlement has dismantled the amateur model that defined college sports for over a century, leaving leaders to navigate the challenges of implementing the new system.
While opting in to the House settlement allows schools to remain competitive and attract top athletes, it also creates new financial pressure. Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) like Morgan State, which has a relatively small athletic budget of $21.7 million in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, must find ways to balance the costs of paying athletes with the need to maintain existing programs.
Fears Over the Future of Title IX
Female athletes are concerned that the new framework will disproportionately benefit football and men’s basketball players, posing a risk to the equity and opportunities for women in sports. The settlement relies on schools to uphold Title IX, which ensures proportionality in access and opportunities for male and female athletes.
Elana Meyers Taylor, a five-time Olympic medalist and former softball player at George Washington, expressed concerns about the lack of mandates on gender parity. “I don’t even see how the spirit of Title IX is kept in place, let alone Title IX at all,” she said.
Some schools are already cutting sports programs, citing budget pressures and the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics. Prairie View A&M, a Texas-based HBCU, recently cut its women’s and men’s tennis programs, while Stephen F. Austin announced it would eliminate beach volleyball, bowling, and men’s and women’s golf programs.
Finding Creative Ways to Make Money
Despite the challenges, some HBCUs are finding innovative ways to generate revenue and support their athletic programs. Linda Bell, athletic director at Dillard, said, “We’ve always felt we’ve had the short end of the stick. We’ve always been able to adjust and adapt. And so what we have to do now is adjust and adapt to these ways.”
Tara Owens, athletic director at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, plans to opt into the settlement for men’s and women’s basketball, using revenue from guarantee games to support the programs. The school will also explore other revenue streams, such as hosting concerts and community events.
Sydney Moore, a former volleyball player at Cornell and Syracuse, hopes that the changes will reignite the conversation on Title IX and lead to increased support for women’s sports. “There is a feeling on campuses that there are perks to being a football player, basketball player, or a high-attention, high-prioritized sport at some of these Division I institutions that are so beyond the resources we get,” she said.
AP Sports Writers Maura Carey and Tim Reynolds contributed to this report. For more information, visit Here
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