For the first time ever, every Women’s Tennis Association event is open to women as much as men. On Thursday, the WTA announced its 2027 schedule, which includes equal prize money for each event, for the first time in the organization’s history.
A total of 55 events, spread across 26 countries and regions, was announced by the WTA on Thursday. Each of these events will have an equal amount of prize money, through the payment of the organization.
The season will also mark a defining milestone for the women’s game. For the first time, all WTA 1000 tournaments combined will award equal prize money, building on the core objective the WTA has established since more than 50 years ago.
Later in the release, the WTA named several events that have committed to paying equal prize money, including the Open, the National Bank Open presented by Rogers and the Cincinnati Open. Those events include the BNP Paribas Open, the Miami Open, all the Grand Slam singles and many other events “committing equal prize money to women and men.”
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The WTA said it has been doing more than five decades. He cited Billie Jean King and other pioneering players who founded the WTA in 1973 as the catalysts for the movement.
WTA chair Valerie Camillo also credited current players with making it clear that equal prize money remains a major focus of the organization. Camillo called it “a major milestone for tennis.”
“The WTA is moving forward to deliver more to players and tournaments in 2027. We have heard the player’s view of the demands of the calendar, and the meaning of the reduction in commitments. Achieving equal prize money across all the combined WTA 1000 tournaments is a major milestone for tennis. It demonstrates the WTA’s continued commitment to leading the sports industry in delivering competitive and financial equality to our athletes.”
While many events have previously offered equal prize money, others — like the Italian Open — have promised that the goal has simply failed.
That is no longer the case in 2017.