Charleston Open to Pay Women Equal Prize Money in 2026

The Charleston Open has extended its partnership with Credit One Bank through 2031 and announced a major move towards equality – equal prize money for women and men starting in 2026.

Historic Step Toward Equity

The announcement came on Sunday, the final day of this year’s tournament. The prize pool for the WTA 500-level Charleston Open will soon match the ATP 500-level men’s events. This makes Charleston the first standalone WTA 500 event to increase prize money ahead of the 2033 WTA goal for full parity.

The 500 level ranks just below the WTA 1000 events and two levels beneath the Grand Slams.

Pushing a Legacy of Empowerment

Amber Greenwalt, senior VP of brand and advertising at Credit One Bank, highlighted the tournament’s long-standing commitment to equality.

“This event has embodied empowerment since 1973,” she said. That year, it became the first women’s tennis event to offer $100,000 in prize money and the first to air live on network television. Rosie Casals, the inaugural champion, earned $30,000, the largest prize for a woman at the time.

Greenwalt added, “This move reflects our dedication to equity on and off the court, and our commitment to progress and opportunity for all.”

Prize Money Details

In 2025, the Charleston Open will offer $1.06 million in prize money. The amount was already set to rise to approximately $1.15 million in 2026, but now it will align with ATP 500 events, which typically exceed $2 million. Final figures will be released when the 2026 ATP prize structures are confirmed.

Leadership Committed to Change

Ben Navarro, owner of the Charleston Open, emphasized the importance of rewarding athletes fairly. “We are proud to take this action to honor our players’ hard work and dedication. We aim to lead by example for future generations,” he said.

Biggest Women’s-Only Tournament in North America

The Charleston Open is the largest standalone women’s tennis event in North America. Held over nine days, it marks the beginning of the clay season on the WTA Tour. The tournament features:

• A 48-player singles draw
• A 28-player qualifying draw
• A 16-team doubles draw

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