The New York Liberty faced an unexpected and lengthy delay on Wednesday when mechanical issues grounded their charter flight, leaving the team stranded on the tarmac for 12 hours. This disruption forced the postponement of their highly anticipated rematch against the Dallas Wings, initially scheduled for Thursday night at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.
Following the delay, the WNBA announced the rescheduled game will now take place on Monday, July 20th, starting at 8 PM ET. Broadcast arrangements for the contest are yet to be finalized and will be communicated in the coming days.
What Happened to the New York Liberty’s Charter Flight?
The ordeal extended beyond a mere change in schedule, as the Liberty’s players and coaching staff used social media to share their experience throughout the prolonged wait. Assistant coach Kristen Mann revealed that the team spent nine hours aboard the plane without any movement, describing the frustrating situation.
Similarly, rookie guard Pauline Astier posted an update around 10:30 PM ET, indicating that the team remained stationary while teammates made do with airline-provided meals. The lengthy delay was also highlighted in a tweet by journalist Madeline Kenney, quoting Astier’s Instagram story that read, “10 hours later, still on the tarmac.”
Meanwhile, the Dallas Wings adapted smoothly to the sudden change in plans. What was supposed to be a pregame shootaround transformed into a full practice session as the team prepared for the upcoming matchup under the revised schedule.