Court Rules College Athletes Eligible for Minimum Wage

A U.S. appeals court, in a groundbreaking ruling, established a test to determine when college athletes can be considered employees of their schools, potentially making them eligible for minimum wage, challenging the NCAA's traditional amateurism stance. This decision allows former college athletes to proceed with a class action lawsuit against the NCAA and their schools, seeking compensation for their athletic services. The court's judgment questions the NCAA's argument that student-athletes cannot be employees due to their amateur status, setting a new precedent that could reshape the landscape of intercollegiate sports in the U.S. The case, involving Division I athletes, highlights the ongoing debate over fair compensation for student-athletes and the need to address their labor status within the framework of federal wage laws.