WTA Selects Charlotte as New Headquarters and Finals Host for Three Years

The WTA Finals, which features the top eight singles players and doubles teams, has been hosted in 17 cities since its inception in 1972. The partnership with Charlotte marks the longest hosting arrangement since Singapore hosted the event for five years from 2014 to 2018. The 2027, 2028, and 2029 WTA Finals will take place at the Spectrum Center, home of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. To avoid scheduling conflicts with the NBA, the WTA will reduce the tournament duration from eight days to five and is finalizing the format with player input.

WTA Chair Valerie Camillo stated during a press call that the WTA Finals are crucial to the tour's identity and aim. "Our ambition is for the WTA Finals to be not only the premier championship in women's tennis but one of the defining global events in women's sports," she said. Camillo described the vision of creating an event akin to the Super Bowl for women's sports.

This announcement comes amid a financial challenge for the WTA, which is projected to face operational losses of $23 million by 2026. Camillo said the organization is currently undergoing “normal belt tightening” as it adjusts to costs from moving the 2026 Finals from Saudi Arabia to Indian Wells, California. Originally set for Riyadh, the event's location changed due to concerns over regional instability linked to the Iran-U.S. conflict.

Regarding future financial stability, Camillo expressed confidence in generating consistent revenue growth. The WTA Finals serve as a vital revenue stream, and the new agreement with Charlotte allows the WTA to manage the event directly, moving away from its previous licensing fee model.

The decision to relocate to Charlotte was influenced by the city’s tennis infrastructure, which boasts more tennis courts per capita than any other U.S. city and hosts significant USTA play. In 2024 and 2025, the Spectrum Center will also feature the Charlotte Invitational, an exhibition with prominent players such as Frances Tiafoe and Venus Williams.

Will Pitts, CEO of the Charlotte Sports Foundation, highlighted hopes for hosting a WTA 500 tournament in the future, contingent on the construction of a new tennis facility and additional funding.

As for prize money, while the WTA Finals are typically lucrative—Elena Rybakina earned a record $5.3 million in 2025—the specific amounts for 2026 in Indian Wells and 2027 in Charlotte have not yet been announced.