WNBA on verge of major charter travel move amid Caitlin Clark popularity surge

The WNBA is reportedly in discussions to introduce charter flights for all 12 of its teams as early as the upcoming regular season, a move in response to the league’s increased popularity with the arrival of rookie stars like Caitlin Clark, and growing concerns over player security. According to USA Today’s Christine Brennan, the WNBA is considering the move 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 shift comes as the Indiana Fever and other teams take steps to enhance security measures, particularly 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 preparations for travel safety, including their first preseason game in Dallas.

A video posted on X, formerly Twitter, shows Clark and her Indiana teammates arriving at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport with extra security ahead of their preseason game vs. the Wings. Some fans can be seen filming Clark and her teammates, but all-in-all the scene appeared relatively tame.

The league’s current travel arrangement involves commercial flights, which contrasts with the charter flights common in NCAA programs like Iowa, where Clark previously played. As the league’s popularity grows, travel security has become an increasing concern, particularly at airports where players have faced harassment. Clark noted the proactive steps taken by the Fever organization to enhance security.

“The Fever organization has done a really good job getting out ahead of things,” Clark said, previously. “There’s gonna be a lot of security traveling with us. There will be certain plans of how we’re going to navigate going through airports and things like that. It’s not just for us; it’s for everybody in the WNBA. Everybody is dealing with the same thing.”

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

“We’re going to take all the precautions we can that not only is she safe but … that we’re all safe,” Dunn said. “I’m appreciative of Pacers Sports and Entertainment because they saw what took place at Iowa, and they’ve taken the measures that we needed to take to make sure everybody’s safe and secure.”

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

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

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

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

Fever forward Aliyah Boston, the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year, also emphasized the importance of security, given the players’ recognizability and the growing enthusiasm around the WNBA.

“We’ve talked a lot with security and just how they’re going to be traveling with us and making sure there’s someone with us,” Boston said,