WTA Launches Maternity Fund for 320 Players, Offering IVF Grants and 1 Year of Paid Leave
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 30
WTA Launches Maternity Fund for 320 Players, Offering IVF Grants and 1 Year of Paid Leave
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 30
More than 320 women’s tennis players can access a new WTA maternity fund that pays for IVF and egg freezing and provides up to one year of paid maternity leave.
The program aims to let players pursue motherhood without ending their careers, addressing concerns that fertility treatment and pregnancy can disrupt training, competition schedules and future family planning.
The WTA later added ranking protection for players returning after a fertility procedure, reducing the risk that time away from the tour will damage their competitive standing.
Players including Sloane Stephens and Magda Linette have highlighted the need for such support, underscoring a broader push to make long professional careers more compatible with parenthood.
As more leagues offer fertility benefits, will this create a new standard for women's professional sports contracts worldwide?
Elite athletes must push their bodies, but fertility doctors advise rest. How are players navigating this conflicting medical advice?
As leagues support athletes' fertility, how can they balance medical privacy with the strict demands of anti-doping regulations?
WTA-PIF Maternity Fund: Groundbreaking Paid Leave and Fertility Grants for 320+ Women Tennis Players Backed by Saudi Investment
Overview
Announced in March 2025, the WTA-PIF Maternity Fund marks a pioneering step in women’s sports by providing vital support for professional tennis players who want to start families. This comprehensive initiative, created through collaboration between the Women’s Tennis Association and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, was championed by players and is designed to help athletes balance their careers with family aspirations. The fund introduces paid maternity leave and fertility grants, addressing challenges faced by self-employed athletes. By establishing a new standard for athlete welfare, the program aims to make it easier for women in tennis to pursue both professional and personal goals.