The WNBA fined the New York Liberty $500,000 after the franchise chartered flights for its players during the second half of the 2021 season, according to a report from Sports Illustrated's Howard Megdal.
Liberty owners Joe and Clara Wu Tsai violated the league's collective bargaining agreement because the use of chartered flights is considered a competitive advantage. The league responded with the massive fine and the removal of Liberty executive Oliver Weisberg from the WNBA's executive committee.
Megdal's report indicated the WNBA originally planned to levy a $1 million fine before dropping it to $500,000. The league's general counsel, Jamin Dershowitz, reportedly "floated out" other penalties, including the loss of draft picks, suspension of team owners and even the termination of the franchise.
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New York was, as Megdal wrote, essentially accused of "treating players too well," and the Tsais were unwilling to wait for the league's permission. Per Megdal:
On Sept. 13, according to a source familiar with the call, the WNBA Board of Governors considered an unofficial proposal from the Liberty to make charter flights the default travel option for WNBA teams — the Liberty said they'd found a way to get it comped for everyone in the league for three years — but it lacked majority support. Some owners worried that players would get used to it, so there'd be no going back, and others wondered whether players might just prefer a salary hike instead.
— Elizabeth Cambage (@ecambage) March 1, 2022
Sabrina Ionescu, the Liberty's top pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft, offered a three-word reaction: "What a joke."
What a joke😂😂😂 https://t.co/SdedaL1vyN
— Sabrina Ionescu (@sabrina_i20) March 1, 2022
Other WNBA players chimed in on social media with their disapproval.
— michaela onyenwere 🤍 (@monyenwere_) March 1, 2022
They over there living the life, while we’re fighting to see who’s Southwest ticket has A1-A5 on it 😂 https://t.co/e6M95tyNCb
— Shey Peddy (@SheyP11) March 1, 2022
— Jazmine Jones (@Jazmine_Jones4) March 1, 2022
Lmfaooooo yoooo this is funny not funny 😂😂😂. https://t.co/tGs6uCYnY8
— Jazmine Jones (@Jazmine_Jones4) March 1, 2022
New York did not charter a flight for its first-round playoff game against Phoenix in an effort to reduce the proposed $1 million fine. The Mercury defeated the Liberty 83-82, ending New York's season.