The WNBA could potentially reach record-breaking viewership and revenue in the upcoming 2024 season, thanks to the arrival of several famous college stars, such as Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink.
The league has plans to reward the players and improve their travel experiences.
The WNBA has recently decided to implement full-time chartered flights for all teams as soon as logistically feasible, starting this season.
"We intend to fund a full-time charter for this season. We're going to as soon as we can get it up and running. Maybe it's a couple weeks, maybe it's a month ... We are really excited for the prospects here," WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said during a league meeting on Tuesday, May 7.
Caitlin Clark's popularity gets credit for WNBA's chartered flights initiative
Several fans attributed Clark's tremendous popularity to the WNBA's provision of chartered flights for their teams.
Not sure this happens without Caitlin Clark.
— Nik Atanackovic (@Nik_Atanackovic) May 7, 2024
Her arrival has brought an exponential rise in popularity (and money) to the sport.
Caitlin Clark messed around and got the #WNBA charter flights. She is a remarkable athlete and Needle Mover.
— Brian Mazique (@UniqueMazique) May 7, 2024
The idea of Caitlin Clark leaned up against the pillar outside Gate J4 waiting for the Delta flight to Dallas alongside all of us regulars was probably not going to work long-term 🙄
— Primetime (@primetimesc2) May 7, 2024
The league anticipates spending $25 million annually on the flights for the next two seasons.
The WNBA had previously revealed plans to introduce chartered travel for all postseason games and select regular-season matchups before the 2023 season, but Engelbert was worried about its long-term sustainability, given that they would have to rely on sponsors for that to happen.
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