Caitlin Clark will be making her WNBA debut with the Indiana Fever on May 14 as they take on the Connecticut Sun. It’s going to be an entire thing as the generational talent and rookie No. 1 pick continues to help the women’s basketball brand grow.
But in reality, Clark continues to make a major impact even before playing her first regular-season game.
Tuesday’s news around the WNBA adds another layer to this.
Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the league will move away from commercial flights and add charters for the teams around the league.
“We intend to fund a full-time charter for this season,” Engelbert told reporters, indicating that the plan would go into action “as soon as we can get planes in places.”
Per the Associated Press, the charter flights will cost the WNBA $25 million annually over the next two seasons. It had been a major talking point in conversations between the union and league relating to a collective bargaining agreement that comes to a conclusion in 2025.
Clark had mentioned the CBA when being asked about commercial flights still being the name of the game around the WNBA. Whether that was a threat or something else, this doesn’t seem to be a coincidence.
Related: Media Personality Doug Gottlieb Under Fire For ‘Mansplaining’ Shooting Technique To Caitlin Clark
The Caitlin Clark Effect Is Alive And Well In The WNBA
Again, this has long been a sticking point around the WNBA with multiple stars pushing back against still having to use commercial flights. It was magnified this past June when Brittney Griner and her teammates were harassed by a YouTube personality at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
Clark and her teammates were seen walking through baggage claim at the very same airport this past Friday ahead of her preseason debut against the Dallas Wings.
As you likely already know, Clark’s pay became somewhat of a hot-button topic after she signed his rookie deal with the Fever. While she has since signed a multi-million contract with Nike, treatment of WNBA players will continue to be under fire. That’s especially true if the brand continues to grow with the 2024 season starting in a week.