via Getty
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 29: Kelsey Plum #10 of the Las Vegas Aces slaps hands with teammates walking off the court after the first quarter of their game against the New York Liberty at Michelob ULTRA Arena on June 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Liberty 98-81. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
via Getty
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 29: Kelsey Plum #10 of the Las Vegas Aces slaps hands with teammates walking off the court after the first quarter of their game against the New York Liberty at Michelob ULTRA Arena on June 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Liberty 98-81. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The WNBA has been seeing a lot of revamps this season. And looks like with the 2024 WNBA batch, filled with outstanding performers, giving its all to the league, the W too wants to return the favor. After stars like Caitlin Clark and the Fever faced a rush of fans at the Dallas airport, Cathy Engelbert unveiled some big news for the teams. Consequently, players like Kelsey Plum, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink, cannot help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Kelsey Plum showed her first reaction to one of the biggest changes in the WNBA. She told the Las Vegas Aces’ writer Will Despart, “Oh, we’re just excited. This league has been growing. Really appreciate Cathy stepping up and understanding. It’s obviously player health and safety and security at this point. We have a lot of big names and stars. Just excited to be able to travel and make the schedule a little easier. ‘Cause the schedule’s pretty rough. But it’s gonna be awesome for us. So, I’m just super grateful for that.”
#LVAces star Kelsey Plum’s initial reaction to #WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s announcement that the league will begin full-time charter flights this season. @SportingTrib #ALLINLV pic.twitter.com/byMZ2svXeL
— Will Despart (@WillDespart) May 7, 2024
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The 2024 WNBA draft class icons Angel Reese and Cameron Brink have also shared their reactions to the positive news with their respective Instagram families. While the Chi-Barbie simply posted ESPN’s update on the matter on her Instagram story, Brink on her Instagram story added a happily crying emoji and heart as her caption to the same. But what forced the league’s hand to take action on the matter after multiple decades of its existence?
Cheering up its players like Kelsey Plum, why has the WNBA made this move?
It is no news that the lives of the WNBA players get way too busy as soon as the season hits. Moreover, it will only get worse as the regular season kicks off by the end of this week. Hence, to remove one obstacle in planning the flights for games, the W announced their plan to include charter flights. However, planning is not the only problem it will solve.
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The women’s professional basketball league has the most eyes on it this year. Hence, to avoid the players from being in the midst of huge pools of fans, a private charter, that does not need management by the airlines, will be a great help. Moreover, it will also avoid mishaps like delayed flights. Consequently, it will secure the basketball players and also save their time while moving from one city to another.
It is great to see how the league is collectively moving forward and introducing new ways to reduce the pressure on its players. Seems like the WNBA is finally coming up to challenge its men’s counterpart in the NBA in both fan following and facilities.
