Commissioner Cathy Engelbert knows league is involving and its giving all support they can to take it to the next level

The WNBA is taking a major step to ensure the safety and comfort of its players by investing $50 million in full-time charter flight services over the next two years. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced this move, addressing long-standing concerns raised by players and fueled by the excitement around sensational rookies.

The league will once again, as they did last season, cover the costs of charter flights for the entirety of the playoffs and for back-to-back games in the upcoming season. This decision, amid a schedule featuring more back-to-back sets due to the extended break for the Olympics follows last year’s $4 million expenditure on charters.

Cathy Engelbert, outlined the league’s intention to launch the charter program “as soon as we can get planes in places.”

The projected cost of approximately $25 million per year for the next two seasons is aimed at improving the travel experience for professional athletes, eliminating long security lines, cramped legroom, and layovers. This is the way the league is transforming and it’s the best for it.

As the Minnesota Lynx forward express “All these players and these faces are becoming so popular that it really is about that as much as it as about recovery”

The league’s popularity has surged in recent years, thanks in part to standout rookies like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink. Clark, in particular, played a pivotal role in driving record viewership for women’s college basketball, with nearly 19 million fans tuning in to the title game against rookie Kamilla Cardoso.

Also, Clark’s arrival turned heads as she strolled through the airport with her new Indiana Fever squad ahead of a preseason clash against the Dallas Wings, an exhibition that quickly sold out with fans lining up excitedly to enter.

This surge in demand has led to WNBA teams relocating games involving Clark and Indiana to larger venues. Notably, the Las Vegas Aces, who led the league in attendance last year, sold out their season tickets in March, setting a new precedent in WNBA history.

Engelbert’s leadership has been crucial in driving positive changes within the WNBA, earning praise for her strategic vision and commitment to player welfare. As the league gears up for an exciting season, the introduction of full-time charter flights is a major step towards enhancing the WNBA’s reputation in sports.

Looking ahead, Engelbert aims to expand the league to 16 teams by 2028, with a new Golden State franchise in San Francisco joining next year, and potential expansions in Philadelphia, Toronto, Portland, Denver, Nashville, and South Florida.