An Update from Carla Williams on the House Settlement

Dear Wahoo Nation,  

On Friday evening (June 6), the House vs. NCAA case was settled which officially begins a new era of college athletics.  In anticipation of the final approval of the settlement, our University and Athletics department have spent the last two years positioning Virginia Athletics for success in this transformative time of college sports. I’m excited and eager to share our plans and the progress we’ve already made.  

Investing in Excellence
With the formal approval of the House vs. NCAA settlement, we are now permitted to provide additional financial support for student-athletes in the form of revenue sharing (rev share) and scholarships. UVA will distribute the maximum allowable, $20.5 million, to our student-athletes.  

Competing at the highest levels of collegiate sports will require investments in four key areas: revenue sharing, scholarships, commercial NIL and operations. Fortunately, UVA strategically invested in key facility needs leading up to the settlement, particularly the opening of the Hardie Football Operations Center in June of 2024. Additionally, we will open the Harrison Family Olympic Sports Center in September. This strategic planning allows us to focus on the pressing needs of this new era. 

Revenue Sharing
We’ve already seen the positive impact of donor engagement for NIL and revenue share for football, having completed the most recent transfer portal class ranked in the top 25 in the country, along with critical donor support for enhanced nutrition and football recruiting needs. Donor support for talent acquisition and retention in basketball has yielded similar results. Revenue sharing for revenue producing sports will fuel the viability and success of athletic departments moving forward. At most athletic departments, including UVA, two sports (football and men’s basketball) produce revenue to support the rest of the department.  

From a fundraising standpoint, the Virginia Athletics Foundation (VAF) closed $15.76M in contributions during May of 2025, marking the organization’s highest-ever production in the month of May.  Additionally, as we transition into the summer months, VAF donations through the end of May are up 71 percent year-over-year and rapidly approaching last year’s full-year fundraising total of $61.6M. While we’re encouraged by the incredible support we’ve received and proud of the progress being made, our work is far from finished. Now more than ever, we need your help to ensure a strong and sustainable future for Virginia Athletics. 

Scholarship Endowment
With the landscape of college athletics continuing to evolve, the VAF has made it a strategic priority to secure the long-term future of each sport through endowment fundraising. As of May, VAF has secured over $22.6 million in endowment commitments—an all-time high for a calendar year.

While we’ve been fortunate to see so many proud alumni and friends rise to the occasion, a leading example has come from men’s tennis. A recent gift to that program pioneered a creative solution for sustaining collegiate athletics, offering a model for programs navigating uncertainty, rapid change, and limited resources—particularly Olympic sports. This effort exemplifies how targeted philanthropy can lay the foundation for long-term, self-sustaining success across our sport programs.

Simply put, competing at the highest level requires a financial investment to secure the future of Virginia Athletics. Your generosity plays a critical role in our success.

College athletics is at an inflection point, and we have a unique opportunity to position Virginia in a place of strength by endowing our scholarships.

Forward Together
In the coming weeks, we’ll be launching a podcast which will include special guests and myself providing a behind-the-scenes look into our athletics department and exploring our path forward into the new era of college athletics. I hope you’ll tune in.  

Please know, everything we’ve accomplished so far – or will achieve in the weeks, months and years ahead – is made possible by your unwavering support. It is your pride, passion, and love for UVA Athletics that sustains our work, and we are grateful to have you with us for this exciting new journey.  

Go Hoos! 

Carla Williams, PhD
Director of Athletics, University of Virginia 

Support: Virginia Athletics Foundation