Now, if you have seen the recent LSU matches, then you might know that Livvy Dunne isn’t one to back off till she gets what she wants. But now, amid all the drama with the NCAA, it has been even more visible. Despite being the highest-paid NIL athlete, Dunne has taken a strong stand for those who were deprived. Owing to the recent settlement over back-pay distribution, most of the amount seemingly went to male athletes. And this is something that did not sit well with Dunne. So what did she do? And did it affect anything?

Well, she complained that her back-pay projection was significantly lower compared to her actual NIL earnings. With the current proposition, a total pool of $2.8 billion was supposedly granted to the athletes who did not receive NIL earnings previously. Dunne testified against the decision in the court. Speaking about the judgment that came out, Dunne was not hesitant to put forth her bold take on the matter.

She mentioned that the amount she received made her feel undervalued. “This settlement uses old logic to calculate modern value,” Dunne said. She further added, “It takes a narrow snapshot of a still maturing market and freezes it, ignoring the trajectory we were on and the deals we lost and the future we could have had.” Unfortunately, all of these complaints did not seemingly affect the decision of the U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken.

She opined that the decision seemed pretty fair. However, Wilkin also kept the door open for change. The District Judge stated that she was advised to provide her with fresh details about the ruling. After careful consideration, Wilkin stated that she would be ready to go ahead with her final decision. Speaking about the verdict, Wilkin noted, “Basically, I think it is a good settlement—don’t quote me, and I think it’s worth pursuing.”

Further shedding light on the matter, Wilken stated that some aspects of the ruling might be fixable. In fact, significant efforts must be made towards fixing the same. Thus, with the ruling hanging in the balance, let’s dive deep into what the original decision stated.

Is the NCAA paying athletes what they’re worth?

The NCAA’s landmark $2.8 billion settlement is nearing its final chapter — but not without pushback from some of college sports’ biggest names. Among the four athletes who testified against the settlement on Monday was LSU gymnastics star and social media powerhouse Olivia Dunne, who took issue with how her NIL value was calculated.

Calling in via Zoom, the millionaire influencer said, “This settlement uses old logic to calculate modern value.” Dunne, fresh off her final competitive season, expressed frustration with what she called an outdated formula that misrepresents athletes’ market power in today’s dynamic NIL environment. “It takes a narrow snapshot of a still maturing market and freezes it,” she said, adding that the process ignores missed opportunities and future potential.

The plaintiffs’ counsel later acknowledged her concerns, stating she would be receiving an updated allocation. Still, the settlement, which replaces scholarship limits with roster caps and offers schools the ability to distribute up to $20.5 million annually to athletes, remains on track for implementation by July 1. While U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken appeared receptive to feedback, she signaled no major course change.

But she did confirm her positivity over this entire situation. “Basically, I think it is a good settlement; don’t quote me, and I think it’s worth pursuing,” she said. A final ruling is expected in the coming weeks. So what do you guys think? Will the hearing come to a favorable position for the Tiger, or will it end up in flames? Well, one thing is for sure: things are going to be a lot different starting now.