Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup (April 7, 2023)
April 07, 2023, 09:00 AM- NBA and NBPA preliminarily approved a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) (still needs formal approval from both sides) that would govern labor relations for players and the league through 2030—new provisions include an in-season tournament, requirement of a number of games played for individual league awards, adjustments to the league’s salary cap structure and contract tiers – NBA, NBPA reach tentative deal for new 7-year collective bargaining agreement | NBA.com
- MLB owners unanimously approved a new CBA with Minor League baseball players (players approved last week) that would increase Minor Leaguers’ salaries, but also improve lifestyle and medical care – MLB owners vote to ratify new CBA for Minor Leaguers
- The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Activision Blizzard settled the DOJ’s lawsuit over salary limits in professional esports leagues, particularly those leagues owned by Activision built around its “Overwatch” and “Call of Duty” video games – S. Justice Department settles with Activision over esports salary limits | Reuters
- The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced the expansion of the league with a 14th team in the San Francisco Bay Area backed by the NWSL’s largest expansion investment fee and lead by a all-women ownership group including Sheryl Sandberg and former USWNT members Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton and Aly Wagner – #nwsltothebay | We’re bringing an NWSL expansion club to the SF Bay Area!
- NCAA wrapped up the Division I Women’s and Men’s basketball seasons with the Women’s Championship game setting a viewership record of 9.9 million viewers while the Men’s Championship game viewership was historically low – LSU vs. Iowa in NCAA Women’s Final Shatters TV Ratings Record – The New York Times (nytimes.com) / UConn-San Diego State least-watched men’s title game: Why that should come as no surprise – The Athletic
- Women’s NCAA players, Charisma Osbourne (UCLA) and Sedona Prince (Oregon), both decided to withdraw from the WNBA draft in order to return for one more year of NCAA basketball. Osbourne will return to UCLA while Prince will enter the transfer portal – WNBA coach cautioned UCLA’s Charisma Osborne about league (justwomenssports.com) / Sedona Prince enters transfer portal, opts out of WNBA draft (espn.com)
- The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) rejected West Virginia’s effort to enforce a law banning trans girls from girls’ sports clearing the way for a 12-year-old middle schooler to stay on her school’s cross-country and track teams – S. Supreme Court declines to allow West Virginia transgender athlete ban | Reuters
- The Biden Administration quickly followed the SCOTUS decision with the proposal of a rule under Title IX that would prohibit schools and colleges from imposing outright bans on transgender athletes, but would leave some room for limits in certain cases for fairness – Biden proposal would bar schools from enacting outright bans on trans athletes | AP News
- FIFA, the world governing body for soccer, asked the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider its finding that FIFA is subject to the jurisdiction of New York courts in the ongoing antitrust lawsuit involving FIFA, United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and plaintiff, Relevent Sports LLC – FIFA Asks 2nd Circ. To Reconsider NY Court Jurisdiction – Law360