WTA Launches Maternity Fund Program to Support Players' Fertility and Family Planning

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced a Maternity Fund Program that provides financial grants for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and egg-freezing treatments to more than 320 players on the tour. The program also includes a year of paid maternity leave and a policy that protects a player’s ranking when she returns after a fertility procedure.

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• Wimbledon, 2024 – Polish player Magda Linette, age 32, consulted fellow competitor Sloane Stephens about IVF and egg-freezing options, raising concerns about training, season scheduling, and anti-doping compliance.

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• 2026 – The WTA publicly launched the Maternity Fund Program, offering the financial and ranking safeguards discussed by Linette and Stephens.

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Female tennis professionals may face reproductive health decisions that intersect with training schedules, competition calendars, and anti-doping regulations. Linette’s genetic condition made IVF the preferred method for future pregnancy, prompting specific questions: how egg retrieval might affect tournament preparation and whether supplements required for the procedure could trigger a drug-test violation.

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• Magda Linette – A 32-year-old Polish player who sought guidance on fertility options while competing on the WTA tour.

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• Sloane Stephens – 2017 U.S. Open champion who publicly discussed her own egg-retrieval experience and encouraged Linette to consider egg freezing.

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• Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) – Governing body that introduced the Maternity Fund Program and instituted ranking protection for returning players.

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The grant component covers the cost of IVF cycles and egg-freezing procedures, reducing the financial barrier for eligible athletes. The paid maternity-leave provision grants a full year of salary support, allowing players to focus on family planning without forfeiting earnings. Ranking protection ensures that a player’s position on the tour is maintained during the leave period and upon return after a fertility treatment, preventing loss of entry into tournaments.

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By coupling financial assistance with guaranteed ranking continuity and paid leave, the program aims to enable players to pursue family planning without sacrificing competitive status. The inclusion of more than 320 eligible athletes expands access to fertility care across the tour.

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The WTA announced the Maternity Fund Program, stating that it would provide financial assistance for IVF and egg-freezing, a year of paid maternity leave, and ranking protection for players who undergo fertility procedures.

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• “I’ve known Magda since I was 13 years old,” — Sloane Stephens, former U.S. Open champion

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• “We’re the same age, and we have the same life situation.” — Sloane Stephens

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• “She shouldn’t have to stop playing tennis because she wants to have a family.” — Sloane Stephens

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The Maternity Fund Program will be administered to the identified cohort of over 320 players, as the WTA has announced.

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