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The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has made a groundbreaking announcement by introducing a paid maternity leave for its players, marking a significant milestone in professional women's sports. This initiative has been supported by the Public Investment Fund, which is set to allow eligible players to receive up to 12 months of paid leave.
In addition to this, players will have access to financial assistance for fertility treatments, including conception and egg freezing. Notably, this policy change marks the result of long-standing advocacy by players, especially tennis sensation Victoria Azarenka, who has been vocal about the need for maternity benefits in tennis since becoming a mother in 2016.
This new program aims to provide the tennis players with crucial support in the game and the flexibility to balance their careers with family life, highlighting broader trends in professional women's sports maternity benefits that seem increasingly crucial nowadays.
It's worth mentioning that WTA's move follows the same initiative as compared to the rest of the games, such as WNBA and women's football leagues, which have also expanded their maternity benefits for their women players. This development is particularly crucial as it addresses a critical gap in support for tennis players who chose to start their families while pursuing their careers.
WTA launches industry-leading paid maternity leave!
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WTA is now offering paid maternity leave.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 6, 2025
This is the first time in women’s sports history that comprehensive maternity benefits are available to independent, self-employed athletes.
The payment fund is sponsored by the PIF of Saudi Arabia.
WTA players can receive up to 12… pic.twitter.com/zi892m5OQ2
WTA CEO Portia Archer: "Independent contractors and self-employed individuals don't typically have these kinds of maternity benefits provided and available to them. They have to go out and sort of figure out those benefits for themselves. This is really sort of novel and groundbreaking. I think it will really be transformational because it will give players the agency, the opportunity, the flexibility, the financial resources and the support to be able to decide when and how they want to build or extend their family"