WNBA Partners with Delta Air Lines

In exciting news for basketball fans, the WNBA announced a new partnership with Delta Air Lines, making Delta the official airline for the league.

This partnership comes just as the WNBA is gearing up for the playoffs after a break for the Olympics. Earlier this year, Delta was chosen to handle all charter flights for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, a major step forward for player travel.

Players had long been advocating for better travel arrangements, seeking to elevate their experiences to match other professional sports leagues. While there will still be some bus travel for short distances—like between New York and Connecticut or Chicago and Indiana—the majority of teams will now have the luxury of flying charter flights.

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert expressed her excitement about this partnership, highlighting how it improves travel for athletes while promoting the growth of women’s sports.

In previous seasons, players mostly flew commercial airlines, which had its challenges, especially highlighted by Brittney Griner‘s experience upon returning to the U.S. after being detained in Russia. After a troubling incident at the airport, Griner flew charter for the rest of the Mercury’s games last year.

This new deal is also a positive move for Delta, which faced challenges this summer due to a major outage that impacted thousands of flights. This partnership allows Delta to enhance its reputation while continuing its support for women’s athletics.

Besides the WNBA, Delta has ties with the NBA, having secured naming rights for the Delta Center, home to the Utah Jazz. The strength of these partnerships shows Delta’s commitment to promoting sports at all levels.