The women’s tennis team at the University of St. Thomas is threatening legal action after the sport was cut.
Both the women’s and men’s teams, affecting 27 student athletes, found out May 11 they would no longer have a team at the school. The women’s team won the MIAC this spring and advanced to the NCAA tournament.
Clare Palen and her teammates felt blindsided, she said. She grew up around the sport and was anticipating becoming a Division I competitor as the Tommies transition from Division III.
“I think all of us want the team back and we want the chance to play together again,” she said. “After meeting with our attorney and seeing how confident he was in our case it’s brought us some hope in that maybe there is a chance that we might get to play together again.”
Athletic Director Phil Esten said in a release: “This was the most difficult decision I’ve had to make in my career,” and pledged to assist the athletes if they decided to stay enrolled or transfer. The university said with the lack of facilities on or off campus, “the financial investment required is not sustainable.” The university said it was not due to COVID-related financial fallout but “the inability to sustainably provide our student-athletes adequate conditions to pursue comprehensive excellence.”
The team’s attorney, Arthur Bryant, sent a letter claiming the university needed to add 148 women athletes to reach Title IX compliance. He told WCCO Radio financial challenges do not matter when it comes to adhering to the law that prevents discrimintion on the basis of sex.
“If you’re going to sponsor an athletic program, the law says you have to provide equal opportunities: athletic, financial aid and treatment to men and women. Period,” Bryant said.
Bryant said it’s their hope that St. Thomas agrees to reinstate the teams and develop a gender equity plan and there will not be a need to sue.
Tennis will continue as a club team. There are 20 varsity sports set to compete come fall.