The WNBA hasn't drawn well enough, to this point, to garner remarkable salaries or charter flights like its brethren in the NBA. But in fairness, the WNBA is still a "newer" league.
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And it may all be about to change. Perhaps we can call it the Caitlin Clark (and Angel Reese) effect. Both are beginning their first seasons in the league, Clark with the Indiana Fever, Reese with the Chicago Sky. In other words, their Iowa-LSU rivalry that rose women's college hoops to new heights is going pro.
Whatever the case may be, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said that finally, some teams will be using charter flights — for the first time — this season, which tips off next month.
She added that the program will cost the league around $25 million over the next few seasons and the goal is for every team to be able to have its own jet shortly, "or as soon as we can get the planes in place."
Now, it should be noted that the WNBA's average attendance last season was just more than 6,600 a game. That's worse attendance than the G League. That's not a criticism — just a stat.
So until this point, it's been hard for the NBA and WNBA team owners to justify large salaries/amenities for players, coaches, etc. Again, though, massive stars can change all that, and there was perhaps no bigger star than Clark, the Taylor Swift of college basketball.
Already, Fever games are selling out both at home and on the road, and while there's undoubtedly some jealousy among the veterans, the best thing that can happen to the WNBA is for Clark to become a bona fide star. Everyone will get rich.
You play for the love of the game, but the luxuries that come with it are plenty nice, too.
