WNBA Under Fire After Caitlin Clark Is Forced To Fly Commercial & Have Awkward Interactions At Airport

Getty Image

The WNBA’s charter flight issue is already a topic of discussion among fans before Caitlin Clark’s pro debut.

For the past few years, WNBA players have complained about being forced to fly commercial instead of private, as their male counterparts have done.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the league can’t afford to charter flights, but things can change when they sign a new media rights deal that could bring in over $100 million a year.

Via The Athletic

“There’s no way any male sport has charter travel without a huge media rights deal,” she Englelbert. Later, she adds: “You’re not gonna jeopardize the financial stability of this league, I’m telling you. If the players got what they wanted right now — look, I want it for them too — but they’re not going to have jobs in three to five years if we did it today.”

Ahead of her WNBA preseason debut, Clark was seen walking through Dallas airport with security as fans walked beside her awkwardly filming her.

Fans and media members blasted the WNBA over their charter flights issue.

Clark also spoke about the issue earlier this week.

“Hopefully it changes in the near future, but for now that’s just what it is. Everyone is dealing with the same thing
so you can’t use it as an excuse…”