They’ll be more room on tour for the incredible talent on the women’s side. Photo: Bielmann//World Surf League
The World Surf League’s Championship Tour will grow in the next couple of years. The league just announced that the women’s field is expanding from 18 to 24 surfers in 2026.
In the new format, the field will include the top 14 surfers from the Championship Tour, the top seven qualifiers from the Challenger Series, two season wildcards, and one event wildcard. It’s a change that’s been called for by fans recently, especially considering the impressive influx of talent on the women’s side.
“I’m really excited to hear that more women will be able to be on the CT,” said 2023 World Champion and Olympic gold medalist Caroline Marks in a WSL press release. “My first event win was also the first competition to have equal prize money, which was a huge step forward. It’s cool too to think that, just as I was able to pursue my career without having to worry about equal prize money, future groms will have a much better chance of being able to join the Tour and live their dream knowing that there’s a place for them.”
Sally Fitzgibbons, the 15-year CT veteran who recently made her way back on to the tour’s roster for 2025, echoed the sentiment. “I couldn’t be more proud of where the level of women’s surfing is currently at,” she said. “Growing the tour is the next logical step in that natural progression. All over the world, women are stepping it up every time they hit the water, and on tour, we’re seeing intense heats and fierce rivalries. It’s what everyone wants to see. I’m so stoked that it’s happening.”
According to the WSL, the early announcement of the expansion is intended to give surfers time to plan their year for qualification under the new format. In the meantime, we still have the full 2025 season to get through until these changes go into effect. The 2025 CT kicks off at Pipeline on January 27.
