WNBA on Verge of Major Charter Travel Shift Amid Caitlin Clark’s Rise in Popularity

The WNBA is in discussions to introduce charter flights for all 12 of its teams as early as next regular season, a move in response to the league’s increased popularity with the arrival of rookie stars like Caitlin Clark and growing concerns about player safety. According to Christine Brennan of USA Today, the WNBA is considering the movementand due to an explosion of interest in the league, as well as business growth and anticipated future revenue from an upcoming media deal.

This potential change comes as the Indiana Fever and other teams take steps to improve safety measures, especially for their high-profile rookie, Caitlin Clark. During the team’s media day at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Fever general manager Lin Dunn, alongside Clark and other team members, discussed safety preparations for travel, including their first preseason game in Dallas.

A video posted to X, formerly Twitter, shows Clark and his Indiana teammates arriving at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport with extra security before their preseason game against the Wings. Some fans can be seen filming Clark and his teammates, but overall the scene seemed relatively tame.

The league’s current travel plan involves commercial flights, which contrasts with the charter flights common at NCAA programs like Iowa, where Clark previously played. As the league’s popularity grows, travel safety has become a growing concern, especially at airports where players face harassment. Clark highlighted the proactive measures taken by the Fever organization to increase security.

“The Fever organization has done a great job getting out in front of things,” Clark said previously. “There will be a lot of security guards traveling with us. There will be certain plans for how we navigate through airports and things like that. It’s not just for us; It’s for everyone in the WNBA. Everyone is dealing with the same thing.”

Lin Dunn highlighted the measures taken by Pacers Sports and Entertainment to ensure player safety, inspired by the safety measures observed during Clark’s time at Iowa.

“We’re going to take every precaution we can so that not only is she safe, but… so that we’re all safe,” Dunn said. “I thank Pacers Sports and Entertainment because they saw what happened in Iowa and took the steps we needed to take to make sure everyone was safe and protected.”

WNBA introduced charter flights for playoff games and back-to-back regular season games

The WNBA has already introduced charter flights for all playoff games and select regular season games on consecutive days that require air travel, but financial constraints have limited the use of charter flights more broadly. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert previously cited cost concerns and competitive imbalances as reasons for the league’s reliance on commercial travel.

Clark acknowledged the potential for renegotiating the league’s collective bargaining agreement, which sets travel parameters, should players opt out after the 2025 season.

“It will definitely be an adjustment,” she said. “I’m sure everyone would say they would love to fly charter all the time. It would definitely help with a lot of problems.”

Fever forward Aliyah Boston, the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year, also emphasized the importance of safety given the players’ recognizability and the growing excitement surrounding the WNBA.

“We talked a lot with security about how they will travel with us and make sure there is someone with us,” said Boston,