WNBA players continue to lobby for charter flights, better accommodations

The issue of charter flights in the WNBA continues to be a hot topic, and the "wear and tear on players' bodies is one reason" they are pushing for change, according to Doug Feinberg of the AP. Feinberg: “Such is how it works for WNBA players. When flying, they’re just like everybody else.” Players are “stepping around people” to get their seats. N.Y. Liberty F Brianna Stewart and her teammates “don’t fly economy, but the seats are still tight.” Per the WNBA’s CBA, players are in “comfort seats or economy-plus to ensure extra leg room.” Feinberg notes while that helps, “taller players like Stewart and her 6-6 teammate Jonquel Jones still find themselves in tight spaces sometimes.” Players “can upgrade to first class,” but “on their own dimes.” Last season the Liberty “[paid] a hefty price for ignoring the travel restrictions” on charter flights. The Liberty received a “WNBA-record” $500,000 fine last year for using chartered flights in 2021 during the second half of that season. However, the league has “eased its stance this season,” allowing teams that have “ scheduled games on back-to-back nights to use charter flights.” The league said in the past that it would “cost about” $25M to “charter for the entire season” or approximately $2M per team (AP, 7/5).