Players expressed outrage after the WNBA penalized a team for improving player conditions

• WNBA players typically travel to and from games on commercial flights and often sit in coach seats.
• WNBA owners reportedly declined to provide teams chartered flights, $4.

WNBA players are expressing outrage after a $4 exposed team owners' reluctance to provide teams with chartered flights.

Billionaire New York Liberty owner Joe Tsai — who also owns the NBA's Brooklyn Nets — reportedly proposed a plan to provide all 12 WNBA teams with comped chartered flights for the next three years. But during the September 13 meeting, according to league insider Howard Megdal, most of the WNBA Board of Governors voted against upgrading teams' travel itineraries.

"Some owners worried that players would get used to it, so there'd be no going back," Megdal wrote. "And others wondered whether players might just prefer a salary hike instead."

The news comes after countless players have spoken up about the absurdity of commercial airline travel for professional athletes of their caliber. Los Angeles Sparks center Liz Cambage, who is 6-foot-8, recently devoted a portion of her introductory press conference to addressing the issue.

"It's frustrating because I played overseas, and I know the treatment and the standard of how athletes, period, should be treated," Cambage said. "It's hard to come here and fly economy, fly exit rows. I'm 6-foot-8, borderline 6-foot-9."

"It's tough, especially when this league is full of owners and GMs that want to do more," she added.

Once the Sports Illustrated article came out, Cambage had a simple reply:

—Elizabeth Cambage (@ecambage) $4

Liberty superstar Sabrina Ionescu — whose franchise was fined for violating the league's collective bargaining agreement by chartering jets during the second half of the 2021 season — was more pointed in her response:

—Sabrina Ionescu (@sabrina_i20) $4

Her teammate, 2021 Rookie of the Year Michaela Onyenwere, was on the same page:

—michaela onyenwere (@monyenwere_) $4

And Phoenix Mercury guard Shey Peddy offered some comic relief in the otherwise tense moment:

—Shey Peddy (@SheyP11) $4

Several other WNBA players shared their reactions in the comments of $4 on Sports Illustrated's report. Breanna Stewart — the Seattle Storm superstar and two-time WNBA Finals MVP — commented "Tf ?!" Mercury point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith added "Disgraceful."

Atlanta Dream forward Cheyenne Parker commented that the reality of the WNBA's situation is "so sad," while Las Vegas Aces point guard Chelsea Gray chimed in with "This is insane."

Even Josh Hart, a player for the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, spoke up on behalf of his counterparts in the women's game:

—Josh Hart (@joshhart) $4

A spokesperson for the WNBA denied that there was ever "a New York Liberty proposal for the WNBA Board of Governors to consider offering three-years-worth of charter flights for WNBA teams."

"It was agreed that the Liberty would explore opportunities regarding charter flights and present it to the Board," the representative told Insider. "To date, that has not happened."

Players and ambitious team owners may have to wait several years before a change on the charter flight front. Until 2027 — when the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expires — travel arrangements will likely be "premium economy (or similar enhanced coach fare)" as dictated by the agreement.