Paid Maternity Leave? Groundbreaking… No, Seriously
What’s going on: Serving aces shouldn’t mean sidelining motherhood, and thanks to a new initiative, professional tennis players may not have to choose. The WTA just announced a new maternity fund that gives eligible players up to 12 months of paid leave — a first for women’s tennis. The program, which is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, will offer financial support (unclear exactly how much) to more than 320 qualifying players. Those who become parents via partner pregnancy, surrogacy, or adoption can get two months paid leave, and players can get grants for fertility treatments (think: egg freezing and IVF).
Our take: For years, many women athletes have faced a choice: their sport or starting a family — risking their ranking, income, and spot on tour. Leagues like the NWSL or the WNBA provide paid maternity leave, but tennis players are considered independent contractors — meaning that generally, if they don’t play, they don’t get paid. The new fund helps change that. Still, the WTA’s announcement isn’t scoring points with everyone. Critics of the association’s partnership with Saudi Arabia maintain the kingdom is “sportswashing” its human rights record. While Saudi Arabia denies those allegations, the WTA’s CEO is calling the partnership a “landmark.” And tennis legend and mom Victoria Azarenka said the program is “life-changing.”
