Charleston Open to Pay Equal Prize Money Starting 2026

The Charleston Open has announced it will offer equal prize money for women and men starting in 2026, making it the first standalone WTA 500 tournament to implement this change ahead of the 2033 goal for all WTA events. The tournament has also extended its partnership with Credit One Bank through 2031. The prize pool for the WTA-500 event will match that of the men's ATP-500 event, which typically exceeds $2 million. Credit One Bank's senior vice president emphasized the tournament's long-standing commitment to gender equity, dating back to 1973, when it first offered women $100,000 in prize money. The 2025 Charleston Open will have a prize pool of $1.06 million, increasing to approximately $1.15 million in 2026. Tournament owner Ben Navarro highlighted the importance of recognizing athletes' hard work and setting a precedent for future generations.