The WTA needs a new CEO.
Portia Archer stepped down from the position effective Monday, April 20, according to an internal memo sent by WTA chair Valerie Camillo. In an email viewed by Front Office Sports, Camillo said Archer’s decision came right before her contract renewal.
Archer joined the WTA in June 2024, succeeding Steve Simon, who was in the role for about eight years. Simon became chairman until he retired in 2025, and was part of the group that hired Archer. She previously served as the chief operating officer of the NBA G League for more than four years.
“Portia has made important contributions to our tournaments, our players, and the advancement of women’s tennis,” Camillo wrote. “Among her achievements, she expanded into new markets, championed player-first initiatives, enhanced safeguarding standards, drove technological innovation, and worked tirelessly to strengthen the WTA’s role in the broader tennis community.”
According to Camillo’s memo, the WTA will provide an update on its leadership strategy in May.
Archer joined the WTA at a difficult time as it faced financial challenges alongside complaints about pay equity from its players. Reports about the potential merger of the ATP and WTA Tours continue to percolate, but it’s unclear whether that will happen soon.
The WTA also faces questions over the future location of the WTA Finals, the season finale that’s been held at Riyadh since 2024. The WTA’s three-year deal with the Saudi Tennis Federation ends this year and will not be renewed, and its next location has yet to be announced.
Archer said last year that she hoped to extend the deal with Saudi Arabia. The tournament, which had a $15.5 million purse and record prize of $5.2 million, has struggled to pack in crowds despite the presence of its biggest stars.
Players have also voiced concerns over the stacked tennis calendar, which led dozens to drop outs of the Dubai Tennis Championships in February. Camillo created a Tour Architecture Council around the same time in an effort to make changes to the calendar by next season.
