One More NCAA Settlement Hoop

“With the exception of the immediate implementation of the roster limits provisions that will cause harm to certain members of the Injunctive Relief Settlement Class ... the Court tentatively finds that it can grant final approval of the remainder of the settlement agreement as fair, reasonable, and adequate,” Judge Wilken wrote in her five-page order.

April 24, 2025

Judge Delays $2.8 Billion NCAA Settlement to Address Roster Limit Concerns, Backs Rest of Plan
AP News’ Eric Olson reports: “U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken signaled she is ready to approve the rest of the settlement but wants both sides to come up with a way to not harm current athletes who will lose their spots on teams. The settlement calls for scholarship limits to be replaced by roster limits.”

“With the exception of the immediate implementation of the roster limits provisions that will cause harm to certain members of the Injunctive Relief Settlement Class ... the Court tentatively finds that it can grant final approval of the remainder of the settlement agreement as fair, reasonable, and adequate,” Wilken wrote in her five-page order.
^{AP News}

Olympic Gold Medalists Sue Bird & Megan Rapinoe Sign With WME
Olympic Gold medalists Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe have inked with WME in all areas. The sports icons will be working with the agency across brand partnerships, books, scripted and non-scripted TV, digital and podcasting, among other areas.
^Deadline

Astros Won’t Launch DTC Service in 2025 Due to Current Agreements
The Astros are the last MLB team not to offer a DTC in-market option, and Space City Home Network has indicated that such a service “not be available in 2025” due to the RSN’s “long-term affiliation agreements,” according to Michael Shapiro of CHRON.com via SBJ.
^{Chron.com via Sports Business Journal}

DOJ Opens Investigation Into Disney-Fubo Deal
The Department of Justice has launched a “formal investigation into Disney’s acquisition of a controlling stake in Fubo,” according to Eriq Gardner of PUCK via SBJ. Disney and Fubo are “already responding to information requests, and bracing for a potential challenge” from the Trump administration over the deal. The investigation itself “shouldn’t be surprising” as the transaction “effectively ended antitrust litigation between two rivals.”
^{PUCK via Sports Business Journal}

Wings Increase TV Footprint to 6.3M Homes Across Texas
SBJ’s Tom Friend reports: “Just over a week after taking UConn’s Paige Bueckers first overall in the WNBA Draft, the Wings have reached an agreement with a triumvirate of broadcast partners to televise 28 regular season games free over-the-air across 12 Texas markets.

“The team’s original pact with Tegna two months ago was a lone deal -- including a rights fee payment -- to broadcast the games on KFAA Channel 29 in Dallas. But Gray Media and Corridor Television have now joined Tegna in a new intrastate arrangement that enables the Wings to triple their reach to 6.3M households.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

The Founder of Sport.ish Wants Brands to Listen Up to Female Fandom
According to founder Lily Checketts Shimbashi, nearly 72% of the global female population identify as sports fans, but half of them only developed fandom in the last five years. A Deloitte study found that women are more likely to use social media to consume sports content, especially behind-the-scenes and storytelling content.

“One of our missions at Sports.ish is to empower young girls to have a place at the table in participating in and talking about sports, the way I did as a child at my family table with my four brothers,” said Shimbashi, referencing the ESPN and EY study that found 94% of women in C-suite positions played sports, and 52% did so at a collegiate level.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Colin Cowherd Met With ESPN Before Re-Signing With Fox: Sources
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand writes, “ESPN and Fox Sports have had an SEC-Big Ten type rivalry in recent years, with each network trying to recruit some of the biggest names from the other. This includes Fox Sports’ top daily talk show personality Colin Cowherd. Before Cowherd re-signed with Fox Sports earlier this year, he met with ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro in Los Angeles ahead of the Super Bowl about returning to his former network, sources briefed on the conversations told The Athletic.

“Shortly after, Cowherd, 61, agreed to stay with Fox Sports on a three-year deal worth millions, though the exact figure is unknown.”
^{The Athletic}

Green Bay Gears Up for One of the Most Distinct NFL Drafts Yet
Front Office Sports’ David Rumsey writes, “With a population of roughly 105,000, the league’s smallest market is set to welcome more than double that this week, with around 250,000 fans expected to attend the draft in person from Thursday to Saturday. That’s a stark contrast to previous editions of the draft, which have typically visited larger metropolitan areas with much bigger footprints.

“A 250,000-square-foot stage—the NFL Draft Theater—has been constructed around the east and northeast sides of the iconic Lambeau Field, which will be featured prominently in the background of crowd shots on TV and social media.”
^{Front Office Sports}

PWHL Adding Vancouver Team for 2025-26 Season
The PWHL is adding a seventh league-owned team in Vancouver, B.C., for its 2025-26 season, marking the league’s first expansion beyond its original six as it heads into its third season. The unnamed Vancouver club will play and practice on the grounds of the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE), with home games held at the city-owned Pacific Coliseum (home of the Canucks until 1995) and training taking place at the PNE Agrodome.
^{Sports Business Journal}

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Nico and Madden Iamaleava Transfers Raise Issue of Whether NIL Collectives Will Recoup Payments
AP News’ Eric Olson writes, “Nico Iamaleava, who led Tennessee to the College Football Playoff last season, walked away from a reported $2.4 million NIL contract to seek higher pay elsewhere. He joined UCLA on Sunday, reportedly for half the money though terms of any NIL deal were not released.

“Arkansas freshman quarterback Madden Iamaleava entered the portal this week not long after spring practices wrapped up and will join his brother at UCLA, according to multiple media reports.

“Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek released a statement indicating he would support efforts by the Razorbacks’ NIL collective to enforce buyout clauses in athlete contracts. Iamaleava reportedly had a contract valued at $500,000 upon signing with Arkansas on Dec. 4, according to reports.”
^{AP News}

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