WNBA players DEMAND chartered flights after Mercury players face harassment
The league doesn’t allow teams to use their funds on charter travel as they consider that as a competitive advantage.
Follow Us
Phoenix Mercury (Image by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
WNBA players are in the headlines of the sporting world as they demand chartered flights for travel. The following demand was around for a while now considering the importance of player’s health and safety. But the situation got under heat when Phoenix Mercury’s players, especially Brittney Griner, were harassed at the Dallas Airport.
Mercury forward Brianna Turner tweeted out the unfortunate experience the team has at the airport. She wrote: “Player safety while traveling should be at the forefront. People following with cameras saying wild remarks is never acceptable. Excessive harassment. Our team nervously huddled in a corner unsure how to move about. We demand better.”
After this tragic incident and the hardship, the players had to suffer from. The WNBA Players Association released a statement explaining how charter travel is important considering players’ health and safety. As the Phoenix Mercury, especially Brittney Griner, just experienced an alleged planned confrontation at the Airport. The statement also mentioned how it’s not about gaining any type of competitive advantage, but just a necessity because of the situation.
The WNBA PA statement read: “What BG and all of her PHX teammates experienced today was a calculated confrontation that left them feeling very unsafe. Everyone who was paying attention knew this could happen. We could have and should have been more proactive. Allowing teams to fly charter is ONLY about player health and safety, and until the league and teams take this issue seriously, situations like this will continue to occur. Every commercial flight forced upon our players is a threat to their health and safety. We implore the league and the teams not to wait another day to change the rule regarding travel.”
WNBA and the Phoenix Mercury have the well-being of their staff and players as the top priority. They are still reviewing and investigating the incident. Even Brittney Griner’s agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas called out the league and demanded chartered travel and enhanced security measures for all players.
Related: Brianna Turner CALLS OUT fans and WNBA for ‘excessive harassment’ of players
WNBA releases a statement after Brittney Griner and Phoenix Mercury were harassed at the airport
WNBA released a statement after Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury were harassed in a planned confrontation at the Dallas Airport. In the statement, the WNBA mentioned the investigation is still on and they prioritize player safety at the top. As it reads: “As we gather additional information about today’s incident at the Dallas Airport, it has come to our attention that this was orchestrated by a social media figure and provocateur. His actions were inappropriate and unfortunate.”
Further, WNBA also mentioned how they were already working with Brittney Griner and Phoenix Mercury to ensure the star’s safety. As they write: “The safety of Brittney Griner and all WNBA players is our top priority. Prior to the season, the WNBA worked together with the Phoenix Mercury and BG’s team to ensure her safety during her travel, which included charter flights for WNBA games and assigned security personnel with her at all times. We remain steadfastly committed to the highest standards of security for players.”
WNBA, though, didn’t answer the demands here and the WNBA Players Association still waits on them. It’s not the first time the players are demanding chartered travel as the health and safety of the stars have always been important. But now the chances of them demanding it for the last time are real and they do deserve to be safe.
The league already has a charter flight program for playoffs and back-to-back games. But they don’t allow teams to use their funds on charter travel as they consider that as a competitive advantage. And, now it’s time for that rule to be changed as the players demand.
In Case You Missed It:
Trail Blazers send HUGE MESSAGE to Damian Lillard as star flirts with leaving franchise
Stay Updated!
Ritik Malik
(1743 Articles Published)