‘We Need Ranking Protection for Egg-Freezing’ -Sloane Stephens

Sloane Stephens, former US Open champion, is advocating for the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) to protect players’ rankings during the egg-freezing process.

The WTA currently allows new mothers to use their previous rankings to enter 12 tournaments over three years and ensures they don’t face seeded players in their first eight tournaments post-maternity leave. However, these protections do not extend to players freezing their eggs.

Stephens explained the physical and mental challenges of egg freezing, which many misunderstand.

“They put you to sleep, and they actually take the eggs out. It’s a very involved process,” the 31-year-old told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Naga Munchetty.

She emphasized, “If you want to have a family and continue to be successful in your career, you shouldn’t have to fight one for the other”.

Her call for change has resonated within the tennis community. Fellow player Naomi Osaka supports the idea, saying, “It’s important that we address all aspects of women’s health and career longevity. Sloane’s proposal is a step in the right direction”.

Stephens herself underwent the egg-freezing process in 2022 and plans to do it again. Partnering with Kindbody, she is raising awareness about the challenges female athletes face and advocating for policy changes to support them.

As the WTA considers Stephens’ proposal, the hope is that female athletes won’t have to choose between their careers and starting a family.