The Virginia Cavaliers shared a statement Thursday afternoon from Athletic Director Carla Williams regarding the recent House vs. NCAA settlement that permits universities to directly pay their athletes. The statement announced that the University will directly pay $20.5 billion in the 2025-26 athletic season to their student-athletes, the maximum permitted under the court settlement.
Since 2021, student-athletes could earn money from name, image, and likeness (NIL) partnerships with third parties. Original NCAA guidance on NIL restricted schools and their respective employees from paying athletes directly or coordinating NIL deals on behalf of their athletes.