Charlotte To Host WTA Finals From 2027

The WTA has announced that Charlotte, North Carolina will become the new host of the WTA Finals, starting in 2027. American tennis star Elena Rybakina won the 2025 edition of the event in Saudi Arabia. The WTA aims to transform the tournament into a "Super Bowl of women's sports", hoping the three-year deal will provide greater stability to the event, which has seen six different hosts in the past seven years.

Plans for a 10-year stay in Shenzhen fell through after just one year, with the Finals rotating between Guadalajara, Fort Worth, Cancun, and Riyadh since then. This year's Finals will be held in Indian Wells, California before moving to Charlotte. The prize money for this year's event is $10 million, $5.5 million less than the $10 million awarded to Saudi Arabia last year.

WTA chair Valerie Camillo emphasized that the organization will now take control of the event's finances and operations, stating that 2026 will be a year of transition while they "belt tighten" and adjust to the relocation costs. The Finals will move to the Spectrum Centre, home to the Charlotte Hornets NBA team, and will be shortened from eight to five days due to the frequent NBA home games.

This change may impact revenue, but the WTA believes they have a solid plan to ensure consistent financial performance starting in 2027. The tournament will also be headquartered in Charlotte, replacing the previous location in St. Petersburg, Florida.