**World Surf League to Expand Women's Elite Field in 2026** In a significant move towards gender equality, the World Surf League (WSL) has announced plans to increase the number of female athletes competing in the Championship Tour. Starting in 2026, the roster will expand from 18 to 24 female surfers per event. This decision has been positively received by Australian surfing veteran Sally Fitzgibbons, who views it as a step in the right direction. The new format will feature the top 14 surfers from the Championship Tour, along with the top seven qualifiers from the Challenger Series. Additionally, there will be two seasonal wildcards and one event wildcard included in the lineup. However, there is still a notable disparity in the number of competitors, as the men's field will remain at 36 athletes. A key point yet to be determined is whether the women's mid-season cut will continue to be limited to just 10 surfers, a reduction that is set to take effect in 2025 after the seventh event in the 11-stop schedule.