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The WNBA heard Breanna Stewart loud and clear.
Earlier this week, the reigning WNBA MVP called out the league for its lack of charter flight availability for all 12 teams after a video of Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever flying private his social media.
Just days later, the WNBA told ESPN that its full chartering program is set to be in place by early next week.
“As the league previously announced, we would be phasing in the program at the start of the season and can share that beginning May 21 all teams will be flying charter to games,” a spokesperson told ESPN.
Though not all teams will fly to every game.
ESPN reports that “trips between Chicago and Indiana, and Connecticut and New York, will remain charter bus rides due to proximity.”
Similar charter buses are taken by NBA teams for games in close proximity.
“2 out of 5 WNBA teams traveling today are on WNBA charters – and that’s a win,” Stewart said in a tweet on Monday. “It could be a bigger one if the W allowed teams who were not offered League charters to secure their own until a full 12 team solution is ready.
Trip #1 of the season – Charter Bus 🚍”
Stars across the league echoed her sentiments.
Angel Reese Joined Breanna Stewart In Complaints WNBA Flights
Rookie star Angel Reese commented on the Chicago Sky flying commercial for their season-opener against the Dallas Wings.
“Just praying that this is one of the last commercial flights Chicago Sky has to fly,” Reese wrote in an Instagram story.
WGN TV in Chicago followed up on the matter. But the league did not offer a comment.
“A source close to the organization confirmed the team was not taking a charter flight for their first road game against the Wings Wednesday night,” it reported. “WGN TV has reached out to the WNBA league office for an explanation as to why the Sky were not given a charter flight”
The league told ESPN that the new full-charter plan will cost about $25 million per year over the next two seasons.