As a former Division I women’s volleyball player at the University of Wisconsin and Kansas State University, I understand the value of fair play. All college sports depend on the enforcement of rules that can be applied equally and consistently. That’s why referees exist: to protect the integrity of the game and maintain a standard of fair competition.
The same approach should govern the name, image and likeness (NIL) rights of student-athletes, which is what federal NIL reform through the bipartisan Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act will deliver.
In recent years, student-athletes have navigated a chaotic system with no clear guardrails. The NIL expansion affirmed the long-awaited rights that student-athletes earned and allowed young Americans to finally monetize their talents. But its introduction has been uneven, resulting in significant uncertainty and confusion.
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The current environment brings endless litigation, various NIL laws between states and institutions trying to gain a competitive advantage. The ongoing regulatory nightmare is anything but fair for the more than half a million student-athletes who play college sports each year.
Congress is the only body that can intervene to achieve the uniformity, stability and fairness that student-athletes demand.
I’m particularly concerned about the impact of NIL on traditionally non-revenue sports, like the ones I played, if no action is taken to rein in the system.
Women’s and Olympic sports are often the first to face budget cuts due to financial pressures. These programs represent the diversity of sports that make college athletics unique and prepare elite athletes for international competition. Take my sport, volleyball: during the 2024 Summer Olympics, the entire U.S. women’s indoor volleyball roster was made up of college athletes.
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Courts, state legislatures, and institutions cannot be counted on to permanently resolve these long-standing problems. Congress is the only body that can intervene to achieve the uniformity, stability and fairness that student-athletes demand. The commissioners of Divisions I, II and III, which include schools of all sizes, recently sent letters to lawmakers urging quick action.
I attended Kansas State with a clear goal: to earn a college degree while achieving athletic success. I never thought I would become an employee of my school – a move that is unpopular with institutions and athletes alike. (AFP/illustration)
I’m glad the SCORE Act is gaining traction and moving closer to a vote. This bill would create enforceable national standards that level the playing field while preserving the educational mission of college sports. It also includes safeguards such as funding for women’s and Olympic sports, and investments in healthcare and athlete welfare.
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Another important safeguard in the bill relates to employment status. I attended Kansas State with a clear goal: to earn a college degree while achieving athletic success. I never thought I would become an employee of my school – a move that is unpopular with institutions and athletes alike.
Student-athletes would face the most damaging consequences if college sports moved to an employer-employee model, as their relationships with coaches would become less about mentorship and development.
Members of Congress recognize that college sports are a valued American institution that teaches civic values ​​such as teamwork and dedication. But without legislative action, it is just empty rhetoric. The longer action is delayed, the more important sports programs will erode, athletic scholarships will dwindle, and fewer young Americans will be able to use their athletic gifts as a path to higher education.
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Ultimately, college sports can only thrive when fair competition meets academic opportunity – a balance the SCORE Act aims to achieve.
As our nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, we must strengthen every institution that makes us exceptional and prepares our next generation of American leaders. That starts with restoring the mission of college athletics and ultimately enacting federal NIL reforms.
