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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Former Missouri stars Sophie Cunningham and Drew Lock are part of the newest wave of current and former college athletes suing the NCAA for monetary damages as part of a growing antitrust lawsuit.

Lock, a former MU quarterback, and Cunningham, the best women’s basketball player in Mizzou history, are among the nearly 300 athletes now listed as plaintiffs in the Fontenot v. NCAA case.

Also among the latest wave of additions to the case are: former Tigers cornerback Akayleb Evans, Missouri men’s basketball center Josh Gray and three former St. Louis University basketball players — Hasahn French, Jimmy Bell Jr. and Lamont Evans IV.

Their allegations are familiar ones, arguing they have been harmed by their previous inability to receive compensation for their name, image and likeness. They also argue that the NCAA and the so-called Power Five conferences — the Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 — violated the Sherman Act, a federal antitrust law.

The University of Missouri and St. Louis U are not defendants.

Gray and the SLU players last month sued the NCAA as part of a separate lawsuit. That litigation has now been voluntarily dismissed as they join the Fontenot case. Lock, Cunningham and Akayleb Evans are new additions to the roster of plaintiffs.

This 798-page lawsuit is different from the widely known House v. NCAA case proceeding in California. A settlement in that case — the House settlement, as it is commonly referred to in college sports circles — stands to bring about sweeping and striking changes to college athletics.

If approved on April 7, the House settlement will allow schools to share upwards of $20.5 million in revenue directly with their athletes each year and institute roster limits that would make walk-ons a thing of the past in college sports. The latter aspect of the settlement has prompted widespread objections, including those from a former MU football player and current swimmer.

Athletes who have joined the Fontenot case have opted out of the House settlement to pursue this separate legal action. The exact values of what they would have received under the House terms are unclear, but they could receive more if the Fontenot case is successful.

Lock, for example, appeared in 50 games for Missouri — most as its starting quarterback. He was one of the Tigers’ highest-profile players from 2015-18, which is where the lawsuit argues he’s owed damages.

“Mr. Lock received none of that revenue, nor was he otherwise compensated by Defendants for his labor other than receiving a scholarship and education-related expenses,� the lawsuit reads. “During his time at Mizzou, he was not permitted to receive money for the use of his NIL, whether from third parties, from Defendants or from his school. As a standout player at Mizzou, he would have earned substantial NIL compensation if not for the NCAA’s unlawful restrictions.�

The lawsuit makes similar arguments for Cunningham, who led MU to four NCAA Tournaments, and other athletes included as plaintiffs.

Whether — or when — the Fontenot lawsuit will produce the damages that these athletes seek is unclear. It’s taken the House case nearly five years to get to a settlement approval hearing, and while it’s likely to be approved in that hearing, there’s no guarantee.

The Fontenot lawsuit now contains a clause that requests it become a class-action suit in the event that the House settlement is denied. It’s unlikely that the Fontenot lawsuit could impact Judge Claudia Wilken’s decision during the April 7 House settlement hearing.

St. Louis law firm Korein Tillery initially filed the Fontenot case in November 2023 on behalf of Alex Fontenot, a former Colorado football player.

The latest addition of plaintiffs includes a handful of recognizable names from starring roles in college and pro sports: Zach Wilson, a former BYU quarterback now with the Miami Dolphins; Trey Lance, a former North Dakota State quarterback; Aaron Holiday, a UCLA guard now with the Houston Rockets; Kansas center Hunter Dickinson; and Moritz Wagner, a former Michigan forward now with the Orlando Magic.

Lock is currently a free agent after spending last season with the New York Giants. Cunningham was recently traded to the WNBA’s Indiana Fever. Akayleb Evans plays for the Carolina Panthers. Gray wrapped up his collegiate career with Mizzou in last week’s NCAA Tournament defeat to Drake. Lamont Evans IV did the same with McNeese State. Bell gave football a try at Mississippi State and has declared for the 2025 NFL draft as an offensive lineman.