What happens when an entire sport builds its health system by women, for women, and with women’s wellbeing at its core? The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) may offer the closest example yet.
According to a recent Forbes report, the WTA has developed one of the most advanced and comprehensive health infrastructures in professional sports. This progress is driven by a unique partnership with Hologic, a global leader in women’s health. Unlike typical sponsorships, this collaboration focuses on creating a care model that treats athletes not only as competitors but as women. The aim is to inspire future generations through education and preventive health care.
Key features of the WTA’s health program include:
- Annual physical exams that offer advanced DXA scans for bone density and body composition, hormone and fertility education, and customized medical advice.
- On-site services at tournaments that address women’s health issues often ignored in elite sports, such as breast and cervical cancer screenings and mental health counseling.
- Year-round mental health support, including traveling specialists and virtual care options.
- Policies shaped directly by player input, with stars like Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka playing key roles.
- Community programs, such as the Global Women’s Health Fund. This initiative, launched with the Gates Foundation and UNICEF, provides prenatal vitamins to women in low- and middle-income countries.
The WTA’s approach focuses not only on athletic performance but on prevention, early diagnosis, and long-term health. Canadian doubles player Gaby Dabrowski shared her experience: a routine physical through the WTA led to an early breast cancer diagnosis.
“If I had waited or ignored it, my story might have been very different,” Dabrowski said. Thanks to fast treatment and full support, she is back competing and encourages other women to get screened.
Jessica Pegula described a WTA health visit as “like going to a world-class women’s clinic built into your career.”
This high level of care sets the WTA apart from other sports organizations.
Kathleen Stroia, the WTA’s head of performance health, explained, “We’re no longer adapting systems built for men. We are leading with research, building with purpose, and showing what is possible when women’s sports invest in women’s health.”
The WTA’s health model supports not only current athletes but also offers a blueprint for the future of women’s sports. It shows how prioritizing health as a foundation can transform the way female athletes are cared for worldwide.
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