The WNBA has announced a strategic investment of $50 million over the next two years to provide its teams with charter flight services throughout the season, a move aimed at enhancing player safety and comfort. The change comes after years of advocacy by players who have voiced the need for better travel arrangements, with additional urgency following incidents where players like Brittney Griner and high-profile rookie Caitlin Clark have faced security risks while traveling commercially.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert outlined the plan Tuesday, which will see the league spend approximately $25 million annually to facilitate this major logistical upgrade.
The decision comes as a response to longstanding concerns over travel conditions for players, which have often involved navigating public airports, dealing with cramped flights and facing potential security threats. Highlighting a recent incident, Griner of Phoenix Mercury recalled her harassment by an individual last season while traveling commercially.
“Our safety is being taken seriously now, finally. In no world should our security not be a priority,” Griner said, per ESPN. “If we want to be the league that we want to be and have the respect that we have, it comes with some risks. Sometimes people want to get close to you and it's not people you want, so I'm just glad that we don't have to deal with that anymore.”
The league’s initiative will eliminate the need for players to endure lengthy security lines and uncomfortable layovers, thus not only improving their travel experience but also aiding their performance recovery. Clark, the No. 1 2024 WNBA Draft pick by Indiana Fever, welcomed the change, recognizing the benefits for both current and long-serving players.
“I'm happy for the players that have been in this league a really long time and have really deserved this for years and years and years,” Clark said in a video shared on X, formerly Twitter, by Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files.
Other WNBA stars voice support for charter flights
Nneka Ogwumike, president of the Women's National Basketball Players Association, hailed the move as “transformational.” She noted the dual impact of the charter flights, highlighting their role in both enhancing safety and supporting athletes' performance through better rest and recovery conditions.
Our league is growing, the demand for women's basketball is growing,” Ogwumike said. “That means more eyes on us, which is what we want, but that means more protection from the organization that we play for, the whole W that we play for.
“Chartering flights not only is a safety measure, the biggest thing, and then obviously what it means to be able to play a game and go home and rest and recover and be the elite athletes that we try to be every single night when we step out onto this court. It's a great day for our league as a whole that we are able to get here and we're going to continue to grow and continue to build and continue to push for even better.”
The financial commitment to charter flights follows increased attention to the WNBA, fueled by rising stars and significant media events that have drawn record audiences to women’s basketball. The popularity has pushed the league to reconsider its travel arrangements, previously limited to providing charter flights only during the playoffs and back-to-back games.
Engelbert’s announcement also detailed the practical aspects of the charter flight program, indicating that the implementation would begin as soon as the logistical arrangements for aircraft are completed.
Players across the league have reacted positively, emphasizing the importance of the change. Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud both pointed to the enhanced security and recovery benefits. Cloud specifically mentioned the challenges of navigating airports, especially with high-profile players like Griner and Clark attracting attention.
Clark drew attention at the airport with her Indiana Fever teammates before a sold-out preseason game against the Dallas Wings last Friday. The game, which drew a full crowd, saw enthusiastic fans lined up eagerly awaiting entry.
“Above everything else, I think it's the safety of our players,” Cloud said. “We have a prime example with BG on our team that needs to be safe. At airports, it's like a madhouse. You see Caitlin Clark walking through airports, people following her, people trying to touch her, get pictures with her. It's just a safety measure, through and through. You would never have an NBA team walk through an airport.”
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