WNBA Commits $25M Yearly for Charter Flights, Announces Engelbert

May 7, 2024, 08:25 PM

The WNBA has announced it will begin providing full-time chartered flights for all teams starting this season, a significant shift aimed at improving travel conditions for players. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert confirmed the change, noting the league intends to fund the charter program, which is expected to cost around $25 million per year for the next two seasons. This decision, influenced partly by backlash over incidents like Caitlin Clark traveling commercial, comes after years of public pressure and discussions about the need for better travel arrangements in the league, ahead of the presumed CBA opt-out in 2025.