WASHINGTON — The Atlantic 10 Conference Fall Business Meetings concluded with Athletic Directors, Senior Woman Administrators (SWA), Faculty Athletic Representatives (FAR), and two student-athletes in attendance. This joint meeting marked the 10
th year student-athletes from the A-10 membership have participated in league meetings.
The meetings focused on the future of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) revenue share in the rapidly evolving landscape of collegiate athletics, including the strategic approach of a basketball-centric conference within this dynamic environment, shifting budgets in the aftermath of the
House v. NCAA settlement as well as congressional efforts to regulate NIL. Additionally, the detailed agenda addressed the league’s media partners, postseason unit distribution, upcoming 50
th anniversary recognitions, and NCAA governance overhaul.
“It’s always good when we can come together and coalesce around what we do for student-athletes,” said Chris May, Director of Athletics at Saint Louis University and chair of the A-10 Athletic Directors group. “We serve tens of thousands of student-athletes in the Atlantic 10, so when you get everybody together in a room focused on what’s important, it’s always a good couple of days – highlighted by those brilliant student-athletes who we had here to share their stories. Who didn’t leave here fired up about what we do as an industry and what we do for a living?”
College Sports Commission (CSC) Chief Executive Officer Bryan Seeley joined the group to outline the organization’s primary objectives, as well as early successes and challenges. Seeley emphasized the CSC’s development, implementation, and continued enhancement of newly created technology platforms such as NIL Go and College Athlete Payment System which are both core to institutional compliance with components of the House Settlement. He acknowledged the public’s skepticism surrounding the CSC’s ability to regulate this new landscape, stressing the importance of patience as trust and confidence are built through consistent standards and enforcement. Seeley assured the group that rules will continue to be developed to prevent circumvention of the regulatory components of the settlement.
The group discussed the SCORE (Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements) Act and reiterated the need for federal support in the stabilization of intercollegiate athletics.
“With the office here in Washington D.C., I was really thrilled that we were able to talk through the components of the SCORE Act and how important that is – not only for the A-10, but quite frankly to all of Division I,” said Bernadette V. McGlade, Atlantic 10 Commissioner.
Several high-profile media partners of the Atlantic 10 participated in the conversation, including representatives from ESPN, CBS, and Versant (NBC/Comcast). Each speaker engaged with the group in discussions to enhance the A-10 brand through strategic selections for televised league basketball games in the 2025-26 season, showcasing the tremendous competition of A-10 member institutions on a national stage. They also embraced partnering with the conference in recognizing and saluting the conference’s illustrious history throughout its 50
th anniversary by telling impactful stories of past A-10 feats while creating anticipation for future moments and milestones.
Directors voted on a proposal for a scheduling alliance amongst four strong women’s basketball conferences: A-10, Missouri Valley, AAC, and Ivy League. The alliance would help each conference’s top programs schedule and secure quality non-conference games outside of standard event structures. After strong agreement within the group, the motion passed to adopt and proceed.
The basketball discussion continued with updates on the 2026 Men’s Basketball Championship at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. and the third year of the Women’s Basketball Championship at the Henrico Sports & Events Center in Virginia. Additionally, the group was briefed on the upcoming joint Atlantic 10 Media Day on September 30 in PPG Paints Arena. The prestigious event will feature 28 press conferences streamed on ESPN+ throughout the day, featuring coverage from hosts Mikey Corey and Christy Winters-Scott as well as on-site reporting by Seth Greenburg and Isis Young. A highlight of media day will be a 50
th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon “tipping off” a year long schedule of anniversary events.
George Mason men’s basketball player Brayden O’Connor and George Washington women’s tennis player & SAAC member Solange Skeene joined the roundtable discussion to present their experiences as Atlantic 10 Conference student-athletes to the A-10 governance groups. A native of Ottawa, Ontario, O’Connor highlighted his experience overcoming adversity as an international student-athlete, emphasizing improvements in travel, facilities, and nutrition since coming to the A-10 while also monetizing his personal brand through NIL. Skeene shared her reflections on attending the two-day A-10 SAAC summer meeting at Under Armour’s Global Headquarters in Baltimore, Md., recounting the positive impact of the event’s professional development and community engagement pieces.