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📕 Today in the D3Playbook. Key Senators Strike Bipartisan Deal On Sweeping College Sports Reform. Softball Championship Preview. Laygo, Hearl Headline Softball All-America Team

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“Two U.S. senators have struck a deal in landmark bipartisan legislation to regulate college athletics.

Next comes a months-long process of gaining enough support for passage in a divided U.S. Congress at a divisive time in America.

Sens. Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat, and Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, reached an agreement on Wednesday after more than two months of intense negotiations, adopting a comprehensive bill that would grant the NCAA its long-sought antitrust exemption related to athlete transfers, eligibility and the compensation cap.”

» What’s In It. “The bill — named the Protect College Sports Act — precludes the creation of a so-called “super league”; creates an agent registry limiting fees to 5%; permits the pooling of media rights; and bars coaches from leaving their team before the season ends.”

» The Big Picture. “Cantwell described the bill as delivering historic protections for athletes in creating a national standard for name, image and likeness compensation (NIL) by preempting state law. The bill is intended to curtail the industry’s spending arms race to protect the future of Olympic and women’s sports and also provides athletes with guaranteed medical care and scholarships.”

» Between The Lines. “Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the bill is the narrow legal protection granted to college sports’ governing body intended to slow player movement, standardize eligibility and control the third-party NIL spending on athletes.”

» Be Smart. “Now comes the hard part. While featuring many pro-athlete concepts, the Senate act includes player movement limitations and potential compensation restrictions that may draw scrutiny during a lengthy amendment and hearing process. In fact, hearings are expected to begin as soon as next week, though one has not been formally scheduled. What awaits the bill are committee fights, floor arguments and external pressures, both from entities who want to see it thrive and fail.”

» The 111-Page Bill
» Section-by-Section

“The 2026 DIII softball tournament final round field is set with games starting Thursday, May 28 and will conclude on Wednesday, June 3 at Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va.

Here is a preview of today’s four matchups.

Virginia Wesleyan (50-0) vs. Rowan (42-9), 11 a.m.

Linfield (42-6) vs. Redlands (43-6), 1:30 p.m.

Trine (38-6) vs. Belhaven (42-10), 4 p.m.

Simpson (39-6) vs. Mount Union (35-7), 6:30

» Team Championships. Virginia Wesleyan 3, Linfield 2, Simpson 2, Trine 2

“Fifty-five student-athletes from 40 different schools have been voted to one of three 2026 NFCA Division III All-America teams.

All eight of the teams who advanced to the NCAA Division III World Series had players earn All-America status, including No. 1-ranked and top tournament seed Virginia Wesleyan, which had the most honorees nationally with six. Fellow finalist and defending national champion Trine, as well as Super Regional participant Texas Lutheran and Regional finalist Worcester Polytechnic all had three recipients.

Rochester junior Riley Laygo was selected as the DIII Player of the Year, while Virginia Wesleyan sophomore Hannah Hearl was selected as the DIII Pitcher of the Year.

» First Team. P-Hannah Hearl (Virginia Wesleyan), P-Katelyn Howard (Texas Lutheran), P-Maria Brooks (Washington U.), C-Ashlyn Aven (Linfield), 1B-Riley Laygo (Rochester), 2B-Caelee Clark (Texas Lutheran), 3B-Melissa Dietz (UW-Platteville), SS-Olivia Tautges (Saint Benedict), OF-Morgan Tucker (Virginia Wesleyan), OF-Meara Sain (Linfield), OF-Emma Lee (Trine), UT/P-Debbie Hill (Trine), DP/UT-Karlie Wolfe (Salisbury), At-Large P-Emma Adams (Virginia Wesleyan), At-Large 1B-Tyra Marcum (Trine), At-Large SS-Karen Potts (Case Western Reserve), At-Large P-Maya Knasiak (TCNJ), At-Large C-Heaven Oliva (Tufts)

» Track and Field. Outstanding Performers of the Championships from the 2026 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships were announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Men’s honors went to Kai Smith of Salisbury on the track and Aryan Shrivastava of UChicago in the field. Women’s honors were awarded to Sydney Radigan of Calvin on the track and Chloe Hein of Centre in the field.

» Softball. Trine’s Emma Lee was selected as the recipient of the Elite Scholar-Athlete award for the 2026 NCAA Division III Softball Championship.

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