Private Jets and Parity: The WNBA’s Travel Dilemma
The WNBA strives for a level playing field,and that extends to travel arrangements. Currently, the league prohibits franchises from using private aircraft, recognizing that some owners might have the financial capacity to provide this perk while others wouldn’t, creating an unfair advantage.
However, this policy was challenged in 2021 when Joe Tsai, owner of both the NBA’s Brooklyn nets and the WNBA’s New York liberty, decided to charter a private plane for his Liberty players. This move, which included a trip to Napa, California, was met with enthusiasm from the players, who felt treated like their NBA counterparts.
Tsai’s actions sparked a debate within the league. While he publicly expressed his desire to make private travel the norm for WNBA teams,many owners remained unconvinced. Some worried about players becoming accustomed to this luxury and resisting a return to commercial flights when necessary. Others prioritized salary increases over travel upgrades.Undeterred, Tsai continued to provide private air travel for his Liberty players, even extending the perk through the playoffs. This move, however, did not go unnoticed.
The WNBA, alerted by a tip-off and facing questions from other executives, responded with a $1 million fine against Tsai and the Liberty, and expelled Oliver Weisberg, a Liberty executive, from league authority. The penalty was later reduced to $500,000 following negotiations between WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and tsai.
Weisberg defended the liberty’s actions, arguing that prioritizing better travel conditions aligned with the league’s pursuit of gender equity.He emphasized the importance of addressing the unique burdens placed on WNBA players’ health and well-being.
The debate surrounding private jets in the WNBA is far from settled. This issue has been a recurring theme in league news for years, and the recent influx of $75 million in funding is highly likely to reignite the conversation.
WNBA legend Sue Bird, who is entering her final season at age 41, sees private air travel as a symbol of success. She believes that leagues capable of providing such a perk demonstrate financial strength and stability, a status that the WNBA is striving to achieve.
