California abandons college athletepay battle as last champions leave
California’s groundbreaking law allowing college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness has stalled, and no state lawmakers are positioned to advance similar legislation in the near future. The 2019 legislation, which enabled student athletes to secure brand deals worth thousands of dollars from companies like Gatorade and Body Armor, set off a national movement in college athletics. However, recent attempts to expand athlete compensation rights in California have faced setbacks. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who championed the original 2019 bill, vetoed new athlete compensation legislation last month. “College sports are in a period of transition as many schools