5 days after approval of House v. NCAA settlement, women athletes file appeal citing Title IX violations

A new report has stated that a group of women's sports athletes is expected to file an appeal regarding the approval of the House v. NCAA settlement. On Wednesday, Front Office Sports' Amanda Christovich reported via X that the group argues that the approval violates Title IX, which mandates equal opportunity for men and women in college sports and education.

"BREAKING: A group of women's sports athletes will file an appeal of the House v. NCAA settlement approval, arguing that it violates the Title IX gender equity statute, @FOS has learned. Story to come.," Christovich tweeted.

On Friday, Judge Claudia Wilken ruled on the House v. NCAA settlement, allowing for revenue sharing between colleges and student-athletes. Colleges can start paying student-athletes on July 1 and share at most $20.5 million in revenue for the academic year, with the amount increasing over the next 10 years.

The settlement will also result in the NCAA paying $2.8 billion to former college athletes who competed between 2016 and 2024 over the next 10 years. However, CBS Sports' Shehan Jeyarajah and Brandon Marcello report that the women's group's appeal could stop the payment from moving forward.

Jeyarajah and Marcello pointed out that the group includes six athletes who played for the College of Charleston (Charleston, South Carolina), such as Emmie Wannemacher and Lexi Drumm, who were on the women's soccer team last year.

More student-athletes to join women's group in appeal of House v. NCAA settlement

Attorney Leigh Ernst Friestedt told CBS Sports that four more women's athletes will join the group in their appeal of the House v. NCAA settlement.

Friestedt also gave a statement explaining why the settlement violates Title IX. Shehan Jeryarajah and Brandon Marcello transcribed the following quotes.

"The House Settlement allocates $2.4 billion to men and only $102 million to women," Friestedt said in his statement to CBSSports. "This significant disparity constitutes a violation of Title IX. Charlotte, Mai, Katherine and Brooke look forward to the opportunity to appeal this decision with the 9th Circuit on behalf of millions of female student-athletes."

Jeryarajah and Marcello noted that the appeal won't affect colleges from paying or sharing revenue with current student-athletes. However, the growing number of women joining the group against the House v. NCAA settlement could create more obstacles for the NCAA to compensate those eligible for back pay from the past nine years. Other lawyers could also intervene on behalf of former or current female athletes who believe they aren't being compensated fairly.