- New Hologic WTA Tour structure will showcase the top athletes regularly playing top tournaments
- Commitment to a pathway to equal prize money at combined WTA 1000 events by 2027
- Changes are a key component of new WTA strategy to support sustainable long-term growth for players, tournaments and all stakeholders in the sport
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The WTA on Tuesday announced an exciting new strategy that will create a solidified pathway toward equal prize money and a revised Hologic WTA Tour calendar, providing sustainable long-term growth for women’s tennis. These key changes will support the growth of the sport and enhance the overall experience for the WTA’s global fanbase and key stakeholders within the game.
The revised calendar structure will raise the excitement and level of competition at all Hologic WTA Tour events to new highs featuring:
- A tour that showcases the top players consistently playing the top events, while providing a structure for player mobility and growth opportunities
- A tour with a strong narrative throughout the year, delivering top matches and rivalries, telling the story of our athletes’ journeys to the global fan base
- A tour that facilitates the acceleration of WTA commercial growth and provides a sustainable economic model for tournaments and players
One of the main pillars of the strategy includes creating a pathway toward equal prize money, a goal envisioned 50 years ago when Billie Jean King founded the WTA. This increase will happen over time, to ensure the changes are sustainable for players and tournaments in the long term, with WTA 1000 and 500 combined events attaining equal prize money by 2027 and single-week WTA 1000 and 500 events by 2033.
“Fifty years after the players found strength in unity, I’m proud the WTA continues to be a global leader focused on providing opportunities, and hope that women in other sports and walks of life are inspired by its example,” WTA Founder Billie Jean King said.
Said Sloane Stephens, WTA Player and Players’ Council Member: “Every generation contributes to preserving the future of their sport, striving to leave it in a better state for the next. I take pride in being a part of this evolution and fully support the WTA’s commitment to progress.”
The revised WTA calendar will feature a strengthening of the top-tier WTA events with a focus on delivering the best talent each week in a consistent and clear manner,…