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WTA Declares Equal Prize Money for All Events in 2027 Season

For the first time in its history, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced that every event in its 2027 schedule will offer equal prize money to women and men. This landmark decision marks a significant step toward gender pay equality in tennis, reflecting over 50 years of progress since the WTA's establishment in 1973.

The 2027 season will feature 55 tournaments held across 26 countries and territories, each committed to matching the prize money awarded in men's competitions. Among these are combined WTA 1000 tournaments, which will all provide equal payouts for the first time ever, a milestone that honors the original mission behind the WTA's founding.

Events Committed to Equal Prize Money

  • Italian Open
  • National Bank Open presented by Rogers
  • Cincinnati Open
  • BNP Paribas Open
  • Miami Open
  • Every Grand Slam tournament

These tournaments join others already known for offering equal prize money, reinforcing the WTA’s commitment to fairness and recognition of female athletes.

Historical Context and Leadership

The WTA credits pioneers like Billie Jean King and her contemporaries who laid the groundwork for this achievement when they founded the organization nearly five decades ago. The current leadership, including WTA chair Valerie Camillo, emphasized how player feedback influenced this shift, aiming to ease the calendar demands while ensuring equitable compensation.

"The WTA is stepping up to deliver more for players and tournaments in 2027. We have listened to player feedback on the demands of the calendar, and responded with a meaningful reduction in commitments. Achieving equal prize money across all combined WTA 1000 tournaments is a major milestone for tennis. It demonstrates the WTA’s continued commitment to leading the sports industry in delivering our athletes competitive and financial equality, and is a testament to the enduring nature of the founding vision of the WTA," Camillo said.

While some events had previously pledged equal prize money but fell short, such as the Italian Open in past years, the WTA confirms this will not be the case starting in 2027.

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