Article/Mention

O'Donnell in Bloomberg and On3: NCAA Athlete Wage Case Invites Students to Sue More Colleges

July 17, 2024

Haynes and Boone, LLP Partner Laura O'Donnell was quoted in Bloomberg Law and On3 articles after a federal appeals court decision advanced student athletes’ minimum wage claims, opening the NCAA and the nation’s colleges up to more lawsuits that could be worth millions.

“The opinion states there is a difference between athletes who play their sports for predominantly recreational and non-commercial reasons, but what does that mean?” O'Donnell told Bloomberg Law. “What is it about a player that crosses them into work? Is it how much profit the college can tie to them? Is it how much they sacrifice for the sport? And how are the players going to show that?”

“Without a doubt, schools competing for top athletes will use high compensation offers as part of recruitment efforts,” O’Donnell told On3. “Sports through which colleges and universities currently generate significant profits – like football and basketball – will start looking more like professional sports teams.”

To read the full article from Bloomberg Law, click here.
To read the full article from On3, click here.