Hard-hitting March Madness tournament, title game broke viewership recordsand some ridiculously long threes (thank you, Caitlin Clark) helped bring the excitement of women’s basketball to many new fans and ultimately helped spark much-needed change at the professional level as well. It might have been.
On May 9th, the WNBA released an official announcement. statement Confirmed plans to launch a full league-wide charter flight program. The initiative, primarily operated by Delta Air Lines, is scheduled to begin in time for the start of the 2024 regular season on May 14.
Since the league’s inception in 1997, teams have typically conducted commercial flights (i.e., boarding planes with other members of the public), but in recent years they have turned to chartering planes (i.e., boarding their teammates’ coaches). (e.g. flying only and privately) is permitted. .) In “certain instances” (e.g., back-to-back games, WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship, postseason games, finals). Doing it in other situations was directly prohibited. In 2022, New York Liberty Airlines was reportedly fined $500,000 for “multiple violations of league rules,” including taking eight unauthorized charter flights during the regular season. new york times.
That same year, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said: ESPN They say they want to charter the entire league, but the estimated $20 million cost was not taken into account. “This is not our intention to jeopardize the financial health of the league, and we do not intend to treat it irresponsibly. If sponsors and supporters could provide funding, that would be great, but that is not our position,” she said. said.
So what has changed since then? One is more public interest (and, with it, public scrutiny of league decisions) and financial investment in athletes. Some NCAA athletes have signed NIL contracts in college, with amounts soaring above $1 million, according to ESPN’s Michael Vaupel. pointing outwhich provides “further impetus to protect these investments.”
The travel situation has been a top issue for the league for many years.when ESPN When we surveyed 34 WNBA players in 2023, from rookies to superstars, and asked them what they thought was the biggest issue in the WNBA, travel ranked No. 1.
The airing of commercials makes it very difficult for players to perform and give their all like the men in the NBA. Air travel is just a hassle, and you have to deal with hassles, delays, jet lag, and overall discomfort. A cramped seat after hours of stopping and starting doesn’t make things any better. tight-It’s even worse, especially if your body is what you rely on for a living.
“We’ll probably only really have two days off,” Los Angeles Sparks forward Keir Nurse told ESPN. “Everyone’s like, ‘Oh, it’s a day off, it’s a travel day.’ When you get on a plane and go up for three hours and come back down swollen, it’s not a day off.”
In sports that require speed and precision, adequate rest and recovery is essential to allow your muscles to recover so you can sprint down the court and mentally recharge you so you can make those two free throws.what I don’t Can you help me with that whole process? Hours spent at high altitude, short, fragmented and painful sleep, and time spent carrying luggage through security checkpoints, waiting for a delayed flight, and then collecting it (without knowing if it will actually arrive) ) Selected destination).and it is in front There was no aisle option, so I was trying to squeeze my 6-foot-7 frame into a window seat.
