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.
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“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.
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