May 8th 2024.
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) made a major announcement on Tuesday, May 7th, addressing long-standing concerns about player safety. In a commitment of $50 million over the next two years, the league will now provide full-time charter flight services for its teams during the season.
Cathy Engelbert, the WNBA Commissioner, revealed this decision during a meeting with sports editors. According to The Associated Press, Engelbert shared that the league is working on launching the charter program, which is expected to cost approximately $25 million per year for the next two seasons. This new commitment extends full-time charter service throughout the regular season, in addition to the previously announced coverage for playoffs and consecutive games.
This decision was made with the players' well-being in mind, as Engelbert had previously acknowledged the league's need for financial stability to implement such an initiative. It also follows a disturbing incident in 2023, where Brittney Griner and her Phoenix Mercury teammates were confronted by a "provocateur" at a Dallas airport. The league stated that the safety of Griner and all WNBA players is their top priority, and even granted Griner permission to book her own charter flights due to security concerns.
The impact of this decision was not lost on players like Napheesa Collier, a forward for the Lynx, who emphasized the safety and recovery benefits it will provide for WNBA athletes. She stated, "All these players and these faces are becoming so popular that it really is about that as much as it is about recovery."
The popularity of the WNBA has been on the rise, with the excitement around 2024 draft picks like Angel Reese from LSU contributing to a surge in ticket sales. As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, fans are eager to see Reese in action for teams like the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever. And with the highly anticipated June matchup between Reese and former University of Iowa guard Caitlin Clark, who drew huge crowds and filled arenas during their NCAA matchups, fans have wasted no time in securing their tickets.
In other exciting news for the WNBA, the Golden State Team recently announced Ohemaa Nyanin as their new General Manager. As the league continues to prioritize player safety and invest in its growth, it's clear that the future is bright for the WNBA and its talented athletes.
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