To commemorate the commencement of the 2024 WNBA season, the national media bellowed that Caitlin Clark’s first flight as a professional basketball player was via private charter. Angel Reese wasn’t so lucky.
everybody say thank you Caitlin ! https://t.co/fHEJkHzo2O
— 7 (@realdonb_) May 13, 2024
Caitlin’s former collegiate rival, Angel Reese, who is now with the Chicago Sky, still has to fly commercial. So do most of the members of the WNBA’s 12 teams.
Worse, Reese’s teammate Brianna Turner was resigned to sit in the middle seat for the Sky’s cross-country flight to play the Dallas Wings on Wednesday, May 15.
“Just praying that this is one of the last commercial flights the Chicago Sky has to fly …” Reese, aka the “Bayou Barbie,” said to her half-million Instagram story followers.
Reese echoed the sentiments of her teammate,Turner, who had this to say on her X platform:
“Like Breezy said ‘practicing gratitude and patience’ as the league introduces charter flights for all teams.”
Meanwhile, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert vows that all the teams will eventually be able to fly charter but that it will take some time to implement the logistical plan, which she said has been more difficult that she original planned.
By the summr of 2024, all 12 teams will fly charter to every away game “as soon as we can logistically get planes in places,” she said at the league meeting, according to the Indianapolis Star.
