Serena Williams will get more attention this week at Wimbledon than any other player. The 23-time Grand Slam champion continues her comeback from retirement by playing her first singles match since 2022, along with competing in the doubles tournament with her sister, Venus. Earlier this month, Williams played doubles at two grass court events.

However, she still isn’t quite eligible to regain the benefits attached to WTA membership.

Players, however, need to reach certain ranking thresholds to become eligible for WTA membership. For associate membership, with annual dues of $650, players must have earned a WTA singles ranking of 500 or doubles ranking of 175 for one week and played in a minimum of three tour-level tournaments in the previous 12 months. Full membership, with $1,500 in dues, requires higher rankings and more tournament appearances.

Associate members receive five benefits outlined in the 2026 WTA rulebook:

Full membership benefits also include optional disability insurance and the opportunity to vote for or serve as a Players’ Council member, a representative group of eight players who advocate for athletes on the tour.

To be clear, Williams, who made $94.8 million in prize money during her career and roughly $400 million more off the court from endorsements, can afford any of the above benefits. Her ability to be on the WTA insurance plan under COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act), however, has expired, and regaining WTA membership status is not a given.

Based on current rankings, Serena would need 112 singles points or 465 doubles points to reach the aforementioned thresholds. If she wins her first singles match at Wimbledon, that would put her at 70 already, and advancing two rounds would get her to 130—comfortably into the top 500.

First round losses at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in September (assuming she plays then too) would mean an uphill battle for Serena to reach associate member status before the end of the year, since non-Grand Slam tournaments are worth far fewer ranking points. At Cincinnati, for instance, a player would need to reach the fourth round to eclipse 112 points. In Washington D.C., only a run to the semifinals or the final would be sufficient.

The health insurance benefit is of interest due to comments Venus made last summer when she played her first tournament after a 16-month absence. The WTA’s insurance plan is provided through the company Aetna. Players enroll for the calendar year based on their membership status from the previous year’s ranking. Those who are no longer eligible but were previously on the plan have access to the health insurance plan under COBRA for up to 18 months.