In a historic move for women’s sports, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has launched a comprehensive maternity leave program, offering up to 12 months of paid leave for players who are pregnant. This initiative, effective retroactively from January 1, 2025, is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and marks the first time such extensive maternity benefits are available to self-employed athletes in women’s sports.
The program extends beyond traditional maternity leave, providing two months of paid parental leave for players who become parents through partner pregnancies, surrogacy, or adoption. Additionally, it includes grants for fertility treatments, such as egg freezing and in vitro fertilization (IVF), supporting players in their family planning endeavors.
More than 300 players are eligible for this fund, which aims to offer financial stability and flexibility, particularly benefiting those who are not among the top earners in the sport. WTA CEO Portia Archer emphasized the program’s transformative nature, highlighting its role in empowering athletes to make personal decisions without compromising their professional careers.
Victoria Azarenka, a member of the WTA Players’ Council and a mother herself, played a pivotal role in advocating for this initiative. She expressed pride in the program’s implementation, noting its potential to set a precedent across various sports and spark global conversations about maternity and parental leave. 