The Players NIL Podcast: Industry Insiders with Christine Brown
Originally published by The Players NIL.
Industry Insiders welcomes Christine Donahue Brown — a nationally respected attorney at the forefront of college athletics law.
With over 30 years in the legal field, Christine has represented athletes, coaches, and teams in some of the most high-stakes situations in sports — from Title IX investigations and NIL agreements to transfer eligibility, scholarship disputes, and employment challenges.
Her track record is exceptional, with a 90% success rate in hundreds of administrative hearings, and her reputation is built on sharp legal instincts, straight-talk advocacy, and deep empathy for her clients. Christine’s passion for justice and sports was shaped early — inspired by her father, a Division I football referee, and her advocacy for her brother with Down syndrome.
That personal foundation has fueled her lifelong commitment to standing up for the underdog, protecting the integrity of sports, and championing inclusion, from Special Olympics to college athletics.
In this episode, we explore:
How Title IX has both succeeded and fallen short in college sports.
The evolving NIL era — and how to turn it into a lifetime opportunity for athletes.
Christine’s advocacy for mental health, legal, financial, and developmental support for players.
The future of revenue sharing, non-revenue sports, and whether government intervention is inevitable.
Christine also shares her perspective on where college athletics is headed — and how her role in shaping the NIL landscape may mirror her decades-long fight for Title IX equity.
Don’t miss this deep, candid conversation with a true Industry Insider who’s been running toward justice her entire career — ever since she carried the Olympic torch in 1996.
