WTA Prize Money Leaders Update: Coco Gauff earns the most, Aryna Sabalenka still more than $3 million clear

Money may not buy happiness, but it sure helps when you are winning tennis matches. As the WTA season barrels into its final weeks, the world’s top stars are racking up not just trophies, but serious cash. The Wuhan Open has shaken up the standings once again, with several players cashing hefty cheques and making big moves in the 2025 prize money race.

From Sabalenka’s unstoppable dominance to Coco Gauff’s steady rise, the year’s earnings leaderboard tells a story of power, resilience, and a few unexpected success stories. Let’s break down who is banking big as the WTA season sprints toward its conclusion.

Despite a few surprise results in recent tournaments, Aryna Sabalenka has yet to feel the financial heat from her rivals. Her total of $12,313,519 keeps her miles ahead of the pack, a jaw-dropping $3 million cushion over second-placed Iga Swiatek. Sabalenka’s latest payday came from her $180,100 haul at the Wuhan Open, where she reached the semifinals before bowing out. It was not her biggest payday of the year, but it added a neat boost to her already towering total. 

Poland’s Iga Swiatek, now sitting on $9.4 million, remains the only player remotely close to Sabalenka’s orbit. A tidy $83,250 boost in Wuhan barely keeps her momentum alive as she heads into the final stretch of the year, unlikely to overtake Sabalenka in prize money earnings for 2025.

However, the real money magnet this month has been Coco Gauff. The American teen sensation earned nearly $596,000 in Wuhan for winning her third overall WTA 1000 title, pushing her total to $7.27 million. Gauff continues to thrive both on the court and at the bank, proving that her 2023 US Open title was no flash in the pan.

In doubles action, Katerina Siniakova and Storm Hunter captured the Wuhan Open doubles title, showcasing the chemistry and precision that have made them one of the most formidable pairs on tour. The duo defeated the number eight seeds Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic in straight sets (6-2, 6-3) to secure the crown, further solidifying Siniakova's dominance in 2025’s doubles circuit, no matter the partner.

For Siniakova, the win adds another prestigious trophy to her already glittering doubles resume, while Hunter continues to rise as one of the tour’s most reliable and dynamic partners. Their Wuhan triumph not only strengthens their year-end ranking prospects but also adds a healthy financial boost as the season nears its climax, as both earned $175,420, and Siniakova has now made $1 million in just doubles action this year.

Italy’s Jasmine Paolini continues to be a fascinating financial story of 2025. With a $180,100 boost from reaching the Wuhan Open semifinals, her total climbed to $4.75 million, allowing her to overtake Mirra Andreeva and become the fifth highest earner on the WTA Tour this year.

Her Wuhan performance capped off a remarkable stretch of form that has seen her regularly go deep in major tournaments in either singles or doubles, steadily building her prize money and reputation along the way. Paolini’s ability to punch above her weight, both literally and figuratively, has made her one of the most consistent and admired players on tour. Her combination of gritty defence, sharp counterpunching, and quiet confidence has turned what began as a breakthrough season into one of 2025’s most lucrative and inspiring campaigns.

With the season nearing its close, the financial leaderboard paints a vivid picture of dominance and rising stars. If Wuhan taught us anything, it’s that the women’s game is more competitive (and lucrative) than ever, and for players like Gauff, Paolini, and Sabalenka, every swing of the racket could mean another six figures in the bank.