As the Indiana Fever prepares for its first preseason game in Dallas, the team is also gearing up to navigate the challenges of commercial air travel, a norm in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Fever's top draft pick, Caitlin Clark, is no stranger to the spotlight, but the transition from charter to commercial flights is a new frontier for her and her teammates.
The WNBA's reliance on commercial flights, primarily for financial reasons, has been a long-standing practice. However, the league's increasing visibility and the growing fame of its players have raised concerns about security, especially in airports.
"The Fever organization has done a really good job getting out ahead of things," Clark said. "There's gonna be a lot of security traveling with us. There will be certain plans of how we're going to navigate going through airports and things like that. It's not just for us; it's for everybody in the WNBA. Everybody is dealing with the same thing."
The Fever's general manager, Lin Dunn, echoed Clark's sentiments, emphasizing the organization's commitment to player safety. "We're going to take all the precautions we can that not only is she safe but ... that we're all safe," Dunn said. "I'm appreciative of Pacers Sports and Entertainment because they saw what took place at Iowa, and they've taken the measures that we needed to take to make sure everybody's safe and secure."
The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement, which outlines travel parameters, is up for renegotiation after the 2025 season. This could potentially lead to changes in the league's travel norms. However, for now, the players are preparing to adapt to the current circumstances.
"It will definitely be an adjustment," Clark said of commercial travel. "At this point of my career and across the WNBA, it is what it is. I'm sure everybody would say that they would love to be flying charter all the time. That definitely would help a lot of problems."
Despite the challenges, the Fever's players are optimistic about the future and the growth of the league. Aliyah Boston, the No. 1 pick in 2023 and last season's WNBA Rookie of the Year, sees progress in the league's approach to security. "We've talked a lot with security and just how they're going to be traveling with us and making sure there's someone with us," Boston said. "I think that's great, because of how we travel and how many people recognize us and the energy that's around the WNBA."
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