Photo Credit: Erica Wheeler/Instagram
Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever Are Soaring High! On the cusp of the regular season, WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark, along with the Indiana Fever players and staff, celebrated a significant rule change: the league now permits teams to use charter flights for away games.
Fever guard Erica Wheeler gave fans a glimpse of the new travel arrangements in a lively Instagram Story post on Monday, May 13. As she walked through the cabin, the WNBA's No. 1 draft pick greeted her, looking relaxed in a cream-colored Nike tracksuit and headphones.
Wheeler continued down the aisle, exchanging greetings with other players who appeared to be enjoying the extra legroom and snacks. "We on the charter," Wheeler, 33, exclaimed. "This is nice, baby!"
The Fever are set to tip off their season against the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena on Tuesday, May 14.
With increasing attention on women's sports and stars like Clark and Angel Reese, the WNBA announced last week that it would begin using charter flights for away games. "We intend to fund full-time charters for this season," WNBA president Cathy Engelbert told reporters on Tuesday, May 7, according to the Associated Press. She noted the transition would occur "as soon as we can get planes in places."
Switching from commercial flights to charters for the league's 12 teams will cost about $25 million per season over the next two years, ESPN reported.
As the season begins, most teams have yet to experience the benefits of private flights. New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart expressed her frustration on X on Monday, writing, "2 out of 5 WNBA teams traveling today are on WNBA charters – and that's a win. It could be a bigger one if the W allowed teams who were not offered League charters to secure their own until a full 12 team solution is ready...Trip #1 of the season – Charter Bus," followed by a bus emoji.
Stewart's team was traveling to Washington, D.C., to face the Mystics on Tuesday. The Minnesota Lynx was the other team flying on a charter, heading to their first game of the regular season against the Seattle Storm.
