Five-time Olympian Katie Uhlaender is raising concerns about the Protect College Sports Act, arguing that the proposal could harm athletes rather than help them. Her criticism centers on the claim that the bill would give the NCAA broad antitrust protection while reducing legal safeguards that athletes currently have.
The debate gained attention after the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee circulated an email encouraging athletes to back the measure. Supporters have described the legislation as a way to preserve college athletics, but Uhlaender says that branding leaves out what she sees as major consequences for athlete rights.
According to the description of her argument, one of the biggest issues is the bill’s potential impact on Title IX. Uhlaender contends that if the act moves forward, athletes could lose important protections tied to gender equity and fairness in college sports, even as the NCAA gains stronger legal cover.
The dispute highlights a wider struggle over who benefits from new college sports legislation: governing bodies seeking stability, or athletes seeking stronger rights and accountability. As discussion over the Protect College Sports Act continues, criticism from prominent athletes like Uhlaender is adding pressure to how the proposal is understood in Washington and across college athletics.
