The Supreme Court unanimously ruled against the NCAA Monday, upholding a lower-court order that will allow schools to provide unlimited academic-related benefits to their student-athletes.
Why it matters: The ruling bars the NCAA from limiting education-related benefits that colleges can provide their athletes, such as laptops, tutoring services, internships and more.
- The NCAA had argued that the limits were necessary to preserve the amateur nature of college sports. Athletes had argued that the restrictions violate federal antitrust laws.
- Some critics say the ruling could open the door to a pay-for-play system in which schools compete for talent by shelling out thousands under the legal guise of education benefits.
What they're saying: "The NCAA’s bankrupt model is finally starting to come apart," tweeted California Gov. Gavin Newsom. "Sickening that colleges reap BILLIONS from student athletes but block them from earning a single dollar. This brings us one step closer to fixing that."
The big picture: The Supreme Court ruling does not touch on the question of whether student athletes can be paid a salary for the rights to their names, image and likeness. Congress is currently considering legislation related to that issue.
