Early on Saturday morning, Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury were harassed by a social media provacateur at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport as they prepared to leave the city following two games against the Dallas Wings. In the wake of the incident, players around the league have renewed their call for charter flights and improved player safety while traveling.
Travel conditions, and specifically charter flights, have been a key issue for players in recent years, and the league did make some changes prior to this season. Charter flights were approved when teams were playing on back-to-backs and for trips to the Commissioner’s Cup championship game and all WNBA playoff games. During the regular season, however, they are not allowed due to competitive-balance reasons.
While some owners would be willing and able to pay for such perks, other owners either may not have the funds or are unwilling to allocate them in that manner.
In regards to Griner, the league released a statement on Saturday incidating that the Mercury had been allowed to fly private this season after the eight-time All-Star returned from a 10-month detention in Russia on drug charges. The Mercury were flying commercial…
