President Donald Trump sent shockwaves through the sports world when news broke that he was considering an executive order regarding NIL payments in college athletics. But according to Michael McCann, a legal analyst and senior sports legal reporter for Sportico, it may do more damage than good.

McCann appeared on The Paul Finebaum Show on Monday, where he spoke on an opinion piece he wrote for Sportico regarding the possible ramifications of an executive order from Trump. He argued in the article that it would create “legal chaos” largely due to the fact that an executive order can’t compel a state to interpret its own laws a certain way.

McCann also brought up the recently proposed House vs. NCAA settlement, which among many things, seeks to eliminate rules prohibiting schools from making direct payments to players. It’s possible an executive order could interfere with getting that done as well.

“If President Trump issues an executive order that somehow limits athlete compensation whether through saying they can’t be employees or new restrictions on NIL, it would face a bunch of challenges and it would not likely stabilize things,” McCann said. “It would likely create new sources of law in terms of challenges that could actually be disruptive, including to the NCAA, which as we know, is trying to get this settlement across the finish line.

“An order that says they can’t be employees, for example, would be challenged because the president can’t dictate state law and the Johnson vs. NCAA case has claims under state laws, so that case would continue. Then there’s the issue of equal protections. There’s first amendment issues, especially with NIL. Honestly, he can do what he wants. But I don’t think it would be creating stability. I think it would have the opposite effect.”

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Trump had been inspired to consider the idea of an executive order for NIL after meeting with former Alabama coach Nick Saban. Saban reportedly told the president about NIL deals and how he believed they were damanging college sports. The coach retired following the 2023 season, three years after NIL had been introduced into law in 2021.

Trump reportedly agreed with Saban and told his aides to begin studying what an order could look like. The article also stated that Saban did not seek to end NIL, but to “reform” it.

It’s still unclear at this point what an executive order from the president would look like, or whether one will come at all. But given all that is still currently up in the air regarding NIL in college sports, McCann doesn’t see it doing much other than making things messier.

IRVING, Texas – After a winning season under first-year Head Coach Courtney Breault, Charlotte Softball racked up six American Athletic Conference postseason honors including Player of the Year, Jenna Lord, and Freshman of the Year, Jaylah Jarrell. 

JENNA LORD – PLAYER OF THE YEAR

After one of the most historic seasons in Charlotte Softball history, Jenna Lord was named to the All-Conference First Team as the 2025 American Athletic Conference Softball Player of The Year. Lord is the first Niner to earn the nod following Charlotte’s transition to the AAC, and the first Charlotte Softball player to win conference player of the year since Bailey Vannoy was named Conference-USA Player of the Year in 2022, the same year in which she was named an All-American. 

“I couldn’t be more proud, or happier, for Jenna,” Breault said. “She has overcome so many obstacles to reach this point, playing with joy and achieving incredible success. She’s been a leader for us both on the field and in the locker room all year. 

“No one is more deserving of this honor.”

Lord led the AAC’s regular-season leaderboard in slugging (.868), OPS (1.340), runs scored (57), hits (71), runs driven in (62), and home runs (21). 

Lord led the 49ers in every offensive category, etching her name in Charlotte’s record books in multiple areas. Lord batted .408  in 174 at-bats, which currently ranks third all-time for a single season, and her 71 hits is tied for second all-time. Her single-season RBI mark (62) is a single-season high after also topping the rankings for single-season slugging percentage (.868). 

Not only has Lord made a splash at Charlotte and in the American Conference, and she also ranks top 10 in the nation in home runs and total bases. Lord has 21 home runs on the season which ranks ninth in the nation. It also places her third in Charlotte Softball single-season history behind only Arianna Rodi (22, 2024) and Bailey Vannoy (24, 2022). 

Rodi and Vannoy earned All-American honors in those two seasons. Lord also ranks fourth in the nation in total bases with 151, second all-time for Charlotte. 

Alongside her stellar offensive performance, Lord also proved to be a strong defensive presence. She was ranked the third-best third baseman in the NCAA this season by D1Softball and the seventh-best by Softball America. 

“It’s been an unbelievable journey,” Lord said. “It hasn’t been linear — one yes comes with 10 no’s. I’m just so grateful for this staff saying yes to me and finding a forever home in Charlotte, whether that’s two years as a player or the next 50 years as an alum, it’s been amazing.” 

JAYLAH JARRELL – FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR

Jaylah Jarrell was named AAC Freshman of the Year alongside Wichita State’s Ryley Nihart. 

Jarrell, who started the year on the bench, made her debut as a starter for the Niners midway through the season at Radford on March 18. 

“Jaylah stepped up in a big way for us this season and quickly became a catalyst in our lineup during conference play,” Breault said. “She’s a special player with incredible potential, and the sky’s the limit for her. I’m so proud of what she’s accomplished and excited to see her continue to grow in the years ahead.”

Through 34 games (27 starts), Jarrell batted .341 in 82 at-bats and racked up 28 hits, three of which were homers. She added a strong presence to the bottom half of the Charlotte lineup and proved clutch, racking up 23 RBI while backing it up with a strong glove at second base. 

Jarrell was also named to the All-Freshman team and All-Conference Second Team. 

KARI SHEDRICK – ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM 

Kari Shedrick earned All-Conference Second Team honors as a designated player (DP) after a strong season at the plate. 

Shedrick hit .357 in 157 at-bats, racking up 56 hits. She ended the regular season slugging over .500 and hit seven home runs, two of which came in the final series of the year. She ranked second amongst the Niners in on-base percentage (.449). 

Throughout the season she accumulated 11 multi-hit games including two four-hit games, the only Niner to do so this season.

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WICHITA, Kan. – Ryley Nihart was tabbed American Athletic Conference Co-Freshman of the Year, highlighting the conference awards for Wichita State softball, the league announced Tuesday morning.

Lauren Lucas was named a First Team All-Conference selection for the third time in her career (2022, 2023, 2025). Wichita State has had at least one first team honoree every season since 2013.

A native of Alvin, Texas, Nihart was also named to the All-Conference Second Team and All-Freshman Team. In conference play, Nihart appeared 21 games, making 17 starts in the circle. She had a team-low 3.08 ERA in 97.2 innings. Nihart was 10-4 with 49 strikeouts, and opponents hit just .242 against her. Overall this season, the true freshman is 10-7 with a 2.92 ERA in 124.2 innings. Her eight complete games are also tops on the team. Nihart is the third Shocker to take home American Freshman of the Year honors, joining Alex Aguilar and Addison Barnard.

Lucas returned to form after missing the 2024 season with an injury to lead the Shockers in batting average (.386), hits (61), RBIs (42), total bases (113) and on base percentage (.500). Her 13 home runs and 11 doubles rank second on the team. Lucas’ 13 home runs this season also mark a career high. In conference games, Lucas hit .395 with four doubles, nine home runs and 26 RBIs. Her nine home runs tied for third most in conference play. As it stands now, Lucas holds spots on several career record lists at Wichita State: second in batting average, third in on base percentage, fourth in slugging percentage and triples, fifth in RBIs, seventh in doubles, ninth in runs and 10th in walks.

Joining Nihart on the All-Freshman Team was teammate Brookelyn Livanec. Livanec burst into the lineup at the start of conference play and never looked back. She started all but one game in AAC play, hitting .351 with five doubles, a triple, 10 RBIs and 13 runs scored. Overall this season, Livanec has produced a .363 batting average, eight doubles, a triple, 15 RBIs and 19 runs in 42 games as a true freshman. Her .363 average at the plate is second highest on the team.

The Shockers open the 2025 American Athletic Conference Championship on Wednesday, May 7 at 3 p.m. CT vs. the winner of UTSA/Tulsa.

2025 American Athletic Conference Softball Regular-Season Awards

 

Player of the Year

Jenna Lord, Charlotte

 

Pitcher of the Year

Autumn Courtney, Florida Atlantic*

 

Defensive Player of the Year

Jesiana Mora, Florida Atlantic

 

Freshmen of the Year

Jaylah Jarrell, Charlotte

Ryley Nihart, Wichita State

 

Coaching Staff of the Year

Florida Atlantic

 

All-Conference First Team

P – Autumn Courtney, Florida Atlantic*

P – Payton Dixon, South Florida

P – Belle Sardja, South Florida

C – Chloe Yeats

1B – Morgan Johnson, East Carolina

2B – Cierra Simon, North Texas

SS – Maci Cole, Tulsa

3B – Jenna Lord, Charlotte

OF – Kylie Hammonds, Florida Atlantic

OF – Kailyn Bearpaw, North Texas

OF – Lauren Lucas, Wichita State

DP/U/Non-P – Madison Conley, North Texas*

 

All-Conference Second Team

P – Ainsley Lambert, South Florida

P – Ryley Nihart, Wichita State

C – Annie Kate Dalton, East Carolina

1B – Bella Cimino, Florida Atlantic

1B – Celeste Wood, Tulsa

2B – Jaylah Jarrell, Charlotte

SS – Kiley Channell, Florida Atlantic

3B – Jesiana More, Florida Atlantic

OF – Emma Jackson, East Carolina

OF – Bella Foran, Florida Atlantic

OF – Olivia Elliott, South Florida

DP/U/Non-P – Kari Shedrick, Charlotte

 

All-Freshman Team

P – Kendall Frost, East Carolina

P – Ryley Nihart, Wichita State

1B – Ausha Moore, North Texas

2B – Jaylah Jarrell, Charlotte

2B – Destiny Johns, Florida Atlantic

OF – Bella Foran, Florida Atlantic

DP – Brookelyn Livanec, Wichita State

 

* denotes unanimous selection

 

The Senate Commerce Committee has proceeded with a hearing on the pivot from sports broadcasting to streaming, without any involvement by the NFL. (Commissioner Roger Goodell declined an invitation to appear.)

In his opening comments, Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) made a pointed comment about the NFL. He said the league has been “tiptoeing up to” the line that protects college and high school football from being diluted by pro football.

The line appears in the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1960, which gave the NFL a broadcast antitrust exemption with one key concession — the NFL cannot broadcast games from the second weekend in September through the second weekend in December on Friday night or Saturday.

“One growing concern is that the NFL has used its special exemption in the SBA to the frustration of college and high school football schedulers,” Cruz said, via a transcript provided by the Committee. “For example, the SBA explicitly excludes antitrust protection for the NFL if broadcasting a game on a Friday night or a Saturday between mid-September to mid-December. That’s to protect the interests of high school and college football, and ultimately, their fans who are no doubt also followers of the NFL.

“The NFL has tiptoed up to this rule, now putting a game on streaming on Black Friday afternoon, which used to be a slot reserved for prominent college football rivalries, including in some years, Texas and Texas A&M. There are millions of sports fans who like being able to follow high school, college, and professional football without having to choose amongst them. And it’s partly why Congress wrote the SBA in the manner it did.”

Cruz mentioned only the Black Friday game, which starts at 3:00 p.m. ET and ideally ends before the 6:00 p.m. ET witching hour, in support of his observation. The league also has started streaming games on the first Friday of September, when the first Friday coincides with the first week of the NFL season — and clearly conflicts with high school football.

There has been speculation that, with the Republican party controlling the White House and Congress, the NFL may press for revisions to the SBA that would eliminate the Friday night and/or Saturday exception. Given that a prominent Republican senator seems to be firmly in favor of enforcing the limits of the current law, Cruz likely would be against allowing the NFL to broadcast games within the current window that is regarded as off-limits.

The broader question is whether streaming fits within the SBA at all. That could be a question for the courts. Or it could become a subject for further legislation.

Today’s hearing seems to be a step toward considering something that would counter the exodus of live pro sports from free TV to pay TV.

We’ll continue to monitor the hearing for anything related to the NFL. You can watch it here, assuming you have consumed the appropriate amount of coffee and/or Red Bull.

Talk of a name, image, and likeness (NIL) executive order by President Donald Trump and former University of Alabama coach Nick Saban is “unmerited and unhelpful,” according to one attorney involved in litigation with the NCAA.

Steve Berman, a co-founder and managing partner at Hagens Berman, is representing a class of hundreds of thousands of current and former college athletes in a pending $2.78 billion settlement with the NCAA, including a revenue-sharing provision worth at least $20 billion. The settlement is still pending in court but is expected to be finalized soon.

Trump discussed a possible NIL executive order with Saban before he gave a commencement address to graduates on Thursday, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Berman criticized Saban in a statement on Monday for initially opposing NIL while he was still coaching.

“While he was a coach, Saban initially opposed NIL payments to athletes, pushing to add restrictions and red tape through national legislation to add ‘some sort of control.’ During his time scrutinizing the athlete pay structure, he made tens of millions of dollars and was previously the highest-paid coach in college football,” Berman said.

Berman said Saban and Trump’s executive order discussions were “unmerited interference.”

“Coach Saban and Trump’s eleventh-hour talks of executive orders and other meddling are just more unneeded self-involvement,” Berman said. “College athletes are spearheading historic changes and benefitting massively from NIL deals. They don’t need this unmerited interference from a coach only seeking to protect the system that made him tens of millions.”

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