California To Let College Athletes Make Money, Defying NCAA

Speaker 1: 00:00 Last week. We told you that the fair pay to play act was awaiting governor Newsome's signature. Well, now it's official. California is the first state to pass a law that allows student athletes to make money in connection to their sport. It breaks with the NCAA as longstanding precedent of prohibiting students from profiting while playing in a schools program. Starting in 2023 athletes at all California colleges will be able to make money from the use of their name, image and likeness Capitol public radios. Scott rod has this report. Speaker 2: 00:34 The athletics complex at Sacramento state is bustling. The university softball team takes infield drills as nearby tennis players, volley shots back and forth. Hector Gretta is the goalie for the men's soccer team and just finished a workout lick. All college athletes, he doesn't earn a dime for his hard work on the field. He's also had to turn down opportunities that could have raised his profile as an athlete. There's been agents that have wanted to represent me, but because there are certain NCAA rules I've, I've said no. You know, I go to come with like free items, free gear and whatnot. But fancy AA rules are so strict. The new law in California could change that for future students. Athletes at California colleges will be able to earn money from advertisements and endorsements the low. We'll also let them take coaching gigs on the side and monetize their online following on platforms like YouTube, the NCAA opposed the legislation, they declined an interview request, but set in a statement, the level create confusion about the rules at college programs. Gretta says the change is overdue. They're making millions off of these players and these players aren't getting anything. You know, you've heard of stories of players starving, you know, I think it's great that they're finally going to get paid. You know, I think they deserve it. California governor Gavin Newsome signed the law. Special episode of HPS, the shop surrounded by star athletes including LeBron James and Diana Taurasi speaking with host Maverick Carter Newsome said, the law is about addressing the power and balance between student athletes and the schools that profit off their skills. Speaker 3: 01:58 When you put pen to paper right now, what's this going to change and what's it going to do? It's going to initiate dozens of other States introduced similar legislation, and it's going to change college sports for the better. By having now the interest finally of the athletes on par with the interests of the institutions. Speaker 2: 02:18 States such as Florida, South Carolina in New York, are considering similar proposals. Some critics say the new law will mainly help elite athletes at top universities land big endorsement deals, but former UC Berkeley rower in two time Olympic gold medalist, Aaron Cafaro says it could benefit many college players who aren't in the limelight, especially female athletes Speaker 4: 02:38 for a lot of women's sports. This is the end of the line, right? This is the peak of their athletic competition. We're doing it for the love of the sport, but if there is an opportunity for us to have some sort of, you know, financial support, then I'm all for that. Speaker 2: 02:55 The NCAA previously said California schools could be banned from championships if the law passed, but nuisance said the association can't afford that in Sacramento. I'm Scott. Rod Speaker 5: 03:06 [inaudible].