WNBA to begin full-time charter flights this season, commissioner says
8 months ago

WNBA to begin full-time charter flights this season, commissioner says

Associated Press  

The WNBA plans to commit $50 million over the next two years to provide full-time charter flight service for its teams during the season, the league’s commissioner announced Tuesday in a move that addresses years of player safety concerns. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a meeting with sports editors that the league will launch a charter program “as soon as we can get planes in places.” She said it’s projected to cost around $25 million per year for the next two seasons. Flights have been an ongoing issue for the WNBA that only increased last year when the league began working with the Phoenix Mercury and Griner after the All-Star center’s 10-month detainment in Russia. Two-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, who now has an endorsement deal with Gatorade, said the growth of the women’s game has been a “whirlwind” that was just a matter of time.

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History of this topic

WNBA season to begin on May 16 with new team Golden State Valkyries opening at home
1 month, 1 week ago

WNBA season to begin on May 16 with new team Golden State Valkyries opening at home

The Hindu  

An expanded WNBA with more games and a new franchise will tip off on May 16. The league extended its schedule to 44 games this year, up from 40, with the addition of a new team, Golden State Valkyries. “We look forward to tipping off the WNBA’s 29th season in May of 2025 and continuing to build on the success …

WNBA season to tip May 16 with expansion Golden State Valkyries opening at home that night
1 month, 1 week ago

WNBA season to tip May 16 with expansion Golden State Valkyries opening at home that night

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — An expanded WNBA with more games and a new franchise will tip off on May 16. The league extended its schedule to 44 games this year, up from 40, with the addition of the expansion Golden State Valkyries. “We look forward to tipping off the WNBA’s 29th season in May of 2025 and continuing to build on …

WNBA makes major change for next season to capitalize on Caitlin Clark's impact
2 months, 4 weeks ago

WNBA makes major change for next season to capitalize on Caitlin Clark's impact

Daily Mail  

After having the most successful regular season in the history of the league, the WNBA is looking to capitalize on its popularity by growing. The 2024 season saw an influx of popular rookies - most notably Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark - that saw the game reach new heights and capture sports headlines around the country. After Caitlin Clark's record-setting …

WNBA announces landmark 11-year media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime and NBC
5 months, 2 weeks ago

WNBA announces landmark 11-year media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime and NBC

Associated Press  

More than 100 WNBA regular-season games will be broadcast each season through an 11-year media rights deal with Disney, Amazon Prime and NBC that the league announced Wednesday. “These agreements allow the league to continue to build a long-term and sustainable growth model for the future of women’s basketball and sports which will benefit WNBA players, teams and fans.” The …

WNBA players’ union leader is concerned league being undervalued in new media rights deal
5 months, 3 weeks ago

WNBA players’ union leader is concerned league being undervalued in new media rights deal

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — The executive director of the WNBA players’ union is concerned the league is being undervalued with the $2.2 billion over 11 years it will receive as part of the NBA’s recently approved media rights deals. “We have wondered for months how the NBA would value the WNBA in its media rights deal,” executive director of the union Terri …

WNBA commissioner says charter flight program still has a few kinks but is running smoothly
7 months, 1 week ago

WNBA commissioner says charter flight program still has a few kinks but is running smoothly

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The WNBA’s new charter flight program still has a few expected kinks but commissioner Cathy Engelbert expects everything to be running smoothly after the Olympic break. There’s a logistical complexity.” It usually takes months of work to put together a charter schedule for a professional league because of plane availability and pilot staffing. “We haven’t done it …

Charter flights for WNBA road games was an early Mother’s Day gift for players with children
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Charter flights for WNBA road games was an early Mother’s Day gift for players with children

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Indiana’s Katie Lou Samuelson says life as first-time mom got a littler easier with the WNBA’s announcement that players will fly on charter flights for road games. “She’ll be on a lot of the road trips.” Many players would not take their kids on the road due to the requirements for young children when flying on commercial …

WNBA addresses safety concerns by launching full-time charter flight program
8 months ago

WNBA addresses safety concerns by launching full-time charter flight program

LA Times  

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks before the WNBA draft on April 15. Engelbert says the WNBA is planning to use league-wide charter flights “as soon as practical” for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The WNBA will use league-wide charter flights for the first time this season, the league announced Thursday. “We are thrilled to announce the launch of a full …

WNBA will pay for flights for playoffs and back-to-backs. Expansion to 16 teams possible by 2028
8 months, 3 weeks ago

WNBA will pay for flights for playoffs and back-to-backs. Expansion to 16 teams possible by 2028

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The WNBA will once again pay for charter flights for the entire playoffs as well as for back-to-back games during the upcoming season that require air travel, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said Monday. We need to be in the right financial position,” Engelbert said before the WNBA draft Monday night. “It will happen before the college draft and …

WNBA holding its own against NFL, MLB, with finals broadcast during busy sports calendar
1 year, 2 months ago

WNBA holding its own against NFL, MLB, with finals broadcast during busy sports calendar

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Through two WNBA Finals games, the series between the …

WNBA travel woes persist. Besides charters, what are the answers?
1 year, 5 months ago

WNBA travel woes persist. Besides charters, what are the answers?

New York Times  

It was 2018, and the fourth overall pick in the recent WNBA draft met with Women’s National Basketball Player Association representatives, who discussed some of the challenges of league travel. “Well, I lived in Connecticut for four years,” she thought, “and travel was never a problem.” “Charters,” Williams says, “change everything.” It’s well documented that WNBA teams do not fly …

WNBA working with Brittney Griner and Mercury on travel options including charter flights
1 year, 6 months ago

WNBA working with Brittney Griner and Mercury on travel options including charter flights

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The WNBA is working with Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury on travel options including charter flights going forward. Griner’s travel was back in the spotlight last week when the team took a flight to Texas and then Indiana, requiring Griner and her Mercury teammates to go through commercial airports. While going through a Dallas airport last …

WNBA adding charter flights for playoffs, back-to-back games
1 year, 8 months ago

WNBA adding charter flights for playoffs, back-to-back games

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The WNBA is adding charter flights for the entire playoffs and back-to-back regular season games this year, the league announced Monday. “It’s significant dollars,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told The Associated Press. We have a very good plan, but I’m not going to share more specifics.” Chartering flights for games on consecutive nights this season is easier …

Griner return, free agency could spark charter flight change
1 year, 11 months ago

Griner return, free agency could spark charter flight change

Associated Press  

Brittney Griner’s return to the WNBA this summer after being traded in a dramatic prisoner swap in December with Russia has collided with free agency, creating potential travel complications for the league out of safety concerns for her. The current collective bargaining agreement requires that all teams fly commercial and doesn’t allow teams to charter flights. Who’s with me?” Many …

The WNBA playoffs are set to begin with 8 teams vying for the title
2 years, 4 months ago

The WNBA playoffs are set to begin with 8 teams vying for the title

NPR  

The WNBA playoffs are set to begin with 8 teams vying for the title The WNBA playoffs begin Wednesday with some key match-ups, a pending retirement and absences of some notable players. STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: The women's pro basketball playoffs begin with eight teams seeking a title. And a lot of great recognizable players for Washington - forward Elena Delle …

AP Source: Liberty fined $500,000 for chartering flights
2 years, 10 months ago

AP Source: Liberty fined $500,000 for chartering flights

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The New York Liberty were fined a WNBA record $500,000 for chartering flights to away games during the second half of the season last year and for other league rules violations, according to a person familiar with the fine. Liberty owners Joe and Clara Tsai, who have been very vocal about trying to find better travel accommodations …

AP Was There: NBA approves plans to launch WNBA
2 years, 10 months ago

AP Was There: NBA approves plans to launch WNBA

Associated Press  

The NBA recognized the popularity of the women’s game in 1996 as its Board of Governors approved plans to start a new pro basketball league the following summer. The board approved the Women’s National Basketball Association to begin play in June 1997 with the slogan of “We Got Next.” It started with plans for eight teams to play a 25- …

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