Hempstead, NY - Hofstra University softball student-athlete Chelsea Villar represented Hofstra and the Coastal Athletic Association at a press conference Monday in Washington, DC, with the Senate sponsors of the Protect College Sports Act.

The Protect College Sports Act is a bipartisan bill designed to stabilize college athletics.  The bill ensures fair opportunities, stability, and long-term success for college athletes while preserving the integrity of collegiate athletics.

Thirty athletes from across the country attended the press conference, as well as coaches John Calipari, Mark Few, Rick Barnes, Craig Bohl, Kelvin Sampson, Ed Cooley, and Craig Robinson. Senators Ted Cruz, Maria Cantwell, Shelley Moore Capito, John Hickenlooper were among the legislators in attendance.

Following the press conference, Villar had the opportunity to meet with staff members of Senator Chris Murphy, who represents Villar's home state of Connecticut, to discuss the state of college athletics. 

"The Protect College Sports Act press conference was a great experience and gave me the opportunity to interact with student-athletes and coaches from all over the country - all with different perspectives and experiences within college athletics," said Villar. "It was also great to see both sides of the political world come together in support of an act that will benefit current and future student-athletes. College athletics has allowed me to grow in so many different avenues of my life, and I want future student-athletes to have the opportunity to be impacted in a similar manner. Having the opportunity to represent Hofstra and the CAA at an event of this nature was another example of how much college athletics has given me and I am so grateful!"

Villar is a senior outfielder from Fairfield, Connecticut. She is in her second year as Hofstra SAAC President and was the 2026 Nick Colleluori Unsung Hero Award winner at Hofstra's HOFSPY Awards. Villar has been a three-year member of the CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll and the Hofstra Athletic Director Scholars Academic Honor Roll while majoring in finance.