WNBA Considering Major Air Travel Change After Viral Caitlin Clark Airport Video
The WNBA's days of flying commercial might soon be over.
The WNBA mostly flies commercial, but does allow chartered flights in very limited situations. Specifically, teams can get a chartered flight for "back-to-back games, the Commissioner's Cup Championship Game, and the entirety of the playoffs," according to the IndyStar. Ultimately, the reason for flying commercial is very simple. The WNBA doesn't have the financial resources necessary to book private jets or regularly charter them from major airlines. It's basic economics. The league doesn't pull down the same kind of cash as major American leagues.
However, it appears that increased attention on the league has the WNBA ramping up plans to only charter jets as soon as it can happen.
WNBA pivoting to more private jets.
"I’m hearing the WNBA is in discussions to begin charter travel for all 12 of its teams as soon as this regular season. Why now? The explosion of interest in the league, business growth and anticipated future revenue from the next media deal," Christine Brennan reported Tuesday.
Not long after Brennan's report, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert confirmed the news. Chartered flights will become the norm "as soon as we can logistically get planes in places," Engelbert told the media following Brennan's report.
The timing of the decision is certainly interesting. The WNBA has never had more attention than it does right now, and there's one person responsible for the boosted spotlight:
The former Iowa star turned first overall pick of the Indiana Fever is the most famous women's basketball player in the country, and she's only been in the WNBA for a cup of coffee.
Yet, her fame is driving the league to new places, and with that fame comes a lot of increased attention. She has security, and a bit of a cringe/awkward video went viral of her being filmed in a commercial airport ahead of her WNBA debut.
It wasn't anything over the top, but did spotlight the increased attention she brings.
Now, the WNBA is preparing to start making more money thanks to Clark and other new faces. That money will be used to upgrade travel. It makes sense. You want the players to be happy and travel to be efficient. We'll see how soon it happens, but it's clear Clark's already having an impact on the league from an attention standpoint alone, and that's apparently helping boost everyone around her. Let me know what you think at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.