Brittney Griner’s return, free agency raises charter flight concerns

BrittneyGriner’s return to the WNBA this summer after being traded inadramatic prisoner swap inDecemberwith Russia has collided with free agency,creating potential travel complications for the league out ofsafety concerns for her.

If Griner,who is a free agent but has saidshe’ll return to Phoenix, needsspecial travel accommodations — such as chartered flights — theleague will have to come up with a plan for the 6-foot-9 star.Griner’s safety when traveling will be a top priority for the teamand the league.

“We are verycognizant of BG’s unique situation,” WNBA Commissioner CathyEngelbert told The Associated Press. “We’ve been planning and we’vebeen thinking it through with security experts. BG’s side, ourside. We’ll find the right time to comment on it when she signswith a team.”

That couldcome Wednesday, when free agents can officially sign.

While theGriner situation is unique, other marquee players raised the issueof charter flights, which teams have deemed too costly.

The currentcollective bargaining agreement requires that all teams flycommercial and doesn’t allow teams to charter flights. Any changein that would have to be approved by both the union and theleague.

“No one wantsto make this work more than me,” Engelbert said. “That’s why we’reworking so hard to transform the economic business model. We’ve hadpositive changes over the last couple years, but we’re not going tojeopardize the financial viability of the league. We are on thecusp of something big here.”

HOWMUCH WOULD IT COST THE WNBA TO CHARTER FLIGHTS?

Engelbertsays it would cost the league about $25 million each season foreach of its 12 teams to charter flights to every game. That numberhas increased about $5 million from previous estimates by thecommissioner due the new 40-game WNBA schedule this season, fuelcosts and other factors.

The estimatedcost per franchise to charter flights would be approximately $2million. Air travel expenses currently for each team is about$150,000, according to two people familiar with the costs. Thepeople spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymitybecause they weren’t authorized to publicly address the issue.

“We did itlast year for the Finals and we have experience on how much itcosts for routes we need to fly,” Engelbert said. “We aremonitoring and updating our analysis. We are going to try and getan economic model to fund this as soon as we can.”

WHATHAPPENS IF A TEAM CHARTERS FLIGHTS?

If teamsviolate the current CBA, they could be fined.

The New YorkLiberty were fined a WNBA record $500,000 in 2021 for charteringflights to away games during the second half of that season.

HASTHE WNBA CONSIDERED SUBSIDIZING FLIGHTS?

Coveted freeagent Breanna Stewart, who has narrowed her choices to a few teamsincluding New York, started a social media campaign to try to helpget chartered flights for the league.

She tweeted,“I would love to be part of a deal that helps subsidize chartertravel for the entire WNBA. I would contribute my NIL, posts +production hrs to ensure we all travel in a way that prioritizesplayer health + safety, which ultimately results in a betterproduct. Who’s with me?”

Many currentand former WNBA and NBA players offered their support. Though anychange to travel restrictions would have to be voted on by theunion and the league.

“We wouldneed a commitment to it in perpetuity,” Engelbert said. “That’s250-300 million dollars. Look at the gate and media deal andsponsorship dollars. We’re not close to being able to afford $250million over the next decade.”

DOWOMEN’S COLLEGE TEAMS CHARTER FLIGHTS?

WNBA playersare used to flying charter flights. That’s how they traveled incollege.

Title IXlegislation requires universities to have equal opportunities fortheir men’s and women’s athletic programs. The NCAA flies both themen’s and women’s teams on charter flights for the tournament ifthey are more than 400 miles from the site of their game.

Thatlegislation doesn’t apply to the pros, so NBA teams charteringbetween cities has no effect on what WNBA teams do.