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AEK Athens has taken an important step towards improving the protection of women’s volleyball players who choose to become mothers, introducing a policy designed to safeguard both their contractual status and financial security during pregnancy and maternity leave.
The initiative was prompted by the pregnancy of libero Evita Ksyntara, whose contract has been renewed for another season. Rather than treating her situation as an isolated case, however, the club has chosen to establish measures that will apply across its women’s volleyball team, turning an individual gesture of support into a broader commitment.
Under the new policy, any player who becomes pregnant during the final year of her contract will receive an automatic one-year extension. In addition, every pregnant player will be entitled to special financial compensation throughout her pregnancy and absence from competitive activity, regardless of how much time remains on her existing contract.
The club has yet to disclose the amount of compensation or explain the precise payment arrangements. Nevertheless, the principles behind the decision address a significant issue in professional women’s sport: the uncertainty athletes can face when pregnancy coincides with the end of a contract or an extended period away from competition.
AEK also chose a meaningful occasion to celebrate Ksyntara’s news publicly. On October 27, following the team’s 3–0 victory over Norway’s Førde in the first leg of their CEV Challenge Cup tie, the libero was honoured in front of supporters at the Olympic Village sports hall in Athens. AEK dominated the match, winning 25:10, 25:14 and 25:13, before the evening took on a more personal significance.
Ksyntara received a large bouquet of flowers and a club jersey bearing her name and the number nine. The ceremony also included the signing of documents in the presence of a club representative, followed by a group photograph featuring the player, her teammates, the coaching staff and members of the management. Applause from the supporters turned the moment into a public expression of appreciation and solidarity.
The initiative has the backing of Marios Iliopoulos, a key figure in the financial support of AEK’s sporting organisation. In its announcement, the club stressed that starting a family is an important stage in a woman’s life and should be met with respect, understanding and practical assistance.
Beyond the immediate circumstances of Ksyntara’s pregnancy, the policy raises an important question for professional volleyball: how can clubs ensure that players do not have to choose between their sporting careers and motherhood? A guaranteed contract extension and financial support cannot remove every challenge associated with pregnancy and returning to competition, but they can provide greater stability at a time when an athlete’s professional future might otherwise become uncertain.
AEK’s decision is therefore more than a gesture towards one player. By establishing a policy for the entire women’s team, the Greek club is putting maternity protection at the centre of its approach to player welfare and employment. The long-term impact will depend on how the measures are implemented, but the commitment itself offers a positive example of how professional sport can better recognise the needs of athletes beyond the court.