WNBA charter flights: Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark embracing idea
“I’m thankful at whatever point that happens, that would be great for us. It will make recovery easier, it will make travel easier,” Clark said.
![Caitlin Clark set for Indiana's preseason home debut](https://media.tegna-media.com/assets/WTHR/images/a3499c81-6971-4c2a-8964-da3c53e625d7/20240509T133319/a3499c81-6971-4c2a-8964-da3c53e625d7_1920x1080.jpg)
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark already is one of the WNBA’s most recognizable players.
So when she made her first road trip last week, the league’s top overall draft pick had to adapt. Instead of loading her bag directly onto a plane and boarding, Clark found herself traversing the same lines and waits as everyone else at the Dallas airport — just like most of the league’s players.
It’s a hassle she wouldn’t mind avoiding on future trips and now league commissioner Cathy Engelbert is working on a solution.
One day after Engelbert told a group of sports editors that she’s trying to find regular charter flights for all 12 WNBA teams, Clark and her new teammates embraced the move.
“I think you just have to be aware of where you are,” Clark said after Wednesday’s practice. “You travel with security, which is nice. It’s just different from college where you put your bag on the plane, hop on the plane and then you’re off. But like (here) you’re waiting at baggage claim, you’ve got to go through the normal security with everybody else. For me, it was my first time doing it. It wasn’t terrible. I just went about my business and kept my head down.”
Clark went on to score 21 points in her pro debut, a 79-76 loss.
But her star power has only fueled a debate that took center stage last season when Phoenix Suns star Brittney Griner was confronted by a man who started asking questions as she walked through an airport. The incident became so heated that the man was tackled and law enforcement was called.
League officials called the man’s actions “inappropriate” and “unfortunate.”
It spurred a leaguewide debate over player safety with some veteran stars asking that league officials do more, including charter flights. And now, with one of the most heralded rookie classes entering the league, Engelbert wants to take action even if she doesn’t have a defined timetable for when it could happen.
Fever coach Christie Sides also remembered sleeping in an airport while working with the Chicago Sky because of several delays before the flight was eventually canceled. She said the team took a 6 a.m. flight and played later that night.
For those reasons, it can’t start soon enough for those who have been around the league for years — or for Clark, who has been driving WNBA ticket sales upward after spending her last two seasons at Iowa driving a substantial increase in television ratings.
“I’m thankful at whatever point that happens, that would be great for us. It will make recovery easier, it will make travel easier,” Clark said. “It just makes life a lot easier for a lot of people, but also it’s just something a lot of people have deserved for years and years.”
News
WATCH! Kelsey Plum Made Her Opinion of Kate Martin Extremely Clear After Watching Martin’s Performance! |T
Kelsey Plum Made Her Opinion of Kate Martin Extremely Clear On Saturday afternoon, WNBA rookie Kate Martin made her regular-season debut — recording her first on-court minutes as a member of the Las Vegas Aces. Through 26 minutes, Martin…
HOT: Discovering that Taylor Swift appeared to have a HICKEY mark on her neck during a concert in Stockholm after enjoying a romantic vacation with boyfriend Travis Kelce, fans nationwide immediately understood the problem. |T
Taylor Swift appeared to have a massive hickey on her neck while performing in Sweden on Saturday. When the superstar, 34, took the stage at her Eras Tour concert and swept her hair behind her ear, fans pointed out that there was an…
Caitlin Clark is adjusting to life as a professional women’s basketball player, finishes first week on a high note |T
Caitlin Clark adjusting to playing in the WNBA, finishes first week on a high note NEW YORK (AP) – Caitlin Clark is adjusting to life as a professional women’s basketball player. Her first week in the league had moments…
Travis Kelce was spotted taking a whiskey shot from a slice of bread in true southern fashion as he was joined on stage with Patrick Mahomes while letting loose at Kelce Jam – his musical festival – after leaving girlfriend Taylor Swift behind in Europe. |T
Travis Kelce downs a whiskey shot from a slice of BREAD and sings on stage with Patrick Mahomes as he lets loose at his music festival after leaving girlfriend Taylor Swift in Europe Travis Kelce was spotted taking a whiskey…
Surprise! Taylor Swift sends O2 Arena into a frenzy as she joins Haim sisters on stage for performance #2022 |T
Surprise! Taylor Swift sends O2 Arena into a frenzy as she joins Haim sisters on stage for performance Source: By Emily Bashforth Jul 22, 2022 Taylor Swift surprised London’s O2 Arena by performing with Haim and it’s safe to say, the Swifties are…
WNBA Fans React to Caitlin Clark Getting Leveled by Punishing Screen |T
WNBA Fans React to Caitlin Clark Getting Leveled by Punishing Screen Welcome to the WNBA, rookie. May 18, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives to the basket / Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports In this…
End of content
No more pages to load