Unlike NBA teams and players, WNBA teams and players take commercial flights during the regular season. For economic reasons since the league does not want to disadvantage franchises who cannot afford private flights for an entire season.
Obviously, security issues come into play. The unfortunate episode with Brittney Griner, mishandled at the Dallas airport in June 2023, demonstrates this. The Fever, which has just drafted Caitlin Clark, new star of women’s basketball, knows that it must strengthen security around its jewel.
“The Fever franchise has done a remarkable job of taking the lead”, explains the first choice of the 2024 Draftwhile the preseason begins this Friday. “There will be a lot of security around us, with plans to move around airports. »
Changes to expect in 2025?
Fever officials took a cue from the University of Iowa’s security measures, even though Caitlin Clark often traveled by private plane to the NCAA.
“We are going to take all precautions for her, and for everyone”specifies Indiana GM, Lin Dunn. ” I am optimistic. We have seen that university basketball has greatly interested the public, with record audiences, so we have become even more alert on issues of player safety. »
Private flights are currently reserved for playoffs or back-to-backs. But this could change in 2025, if the players decide to negotiate a new collective agreement, which would change the transport rules.
“It would definitely be an adjustment to make. For now, at this point in my career and in the WNBA, it’s like this,” notes, however, Caitlin Clark. “I’m sure everyone in the league is going to say they wish they could fly a private plane every time. This would solve a lot of problems. »
2024-05-03 13:26:18
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