WNBA fans are buzzing after the announcement that Alyssa Thomas has become the second star to join Project B, an ambitious new international women’s basketball league set to debut in the fall of 2026.
Thomas follows Nneka Ogwumike, who revealed her plans to play in the league just last week, marking a significant early signing for the emerging competition.
The news raises big questions about the future of professional women’s basketball. Project B is reportedly funded in part by Sela, an entertainment company backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which is tied to the royal family and estimated to control assets worth around $900 billion.
The connection has sparked debate, as many worry about the ethical implications of WNBA players taking part in a league partially funded by a government with a controversial human rights record, especially in a league long known for activism.
Despite these concerns, Project B’s organizers insist they don’t intend to directly compete with the WNBA — at least not immediately.
The league’s inaugural season will run from November 2026 to April 2027, meaning players could still return for the WNBA’s summer schedule. Yet officials have made it clear they are open to becoming a significant long-term rival, potentially reshaping the global landscape of women’s basketball.
The timing of the announcements adds another layer of intrigue.
WNBA players and leadership remain locked in stalled collective bargaining negotiations, and the signings of Thomas and Ogwumike have fans questioning whether the 2026 WNBA season could be impacted.
Even if the league proceeds as planned, some stars may be enticed by Project B’s lucrative offers, which reportedly guarantee at least $2 million for select players — making financial considerations difficult to ignore.
So what exactly is Project B? The league will follow a traditional 5-on-5 format with 11-player rosters and feature two-week tournaments across locations in Europe and Asia. It was created by Skype cofounder Geoff Prentice and former Facebook executive Grady Burnett, with advisory input from some of the biggest names in sports, including Candace Parker, Steve Young, Novak Djokovic, Sloane Stephens, and reportedly LeBron James.
With such high-profile backing and substantial player salaries, Project B is positioning itself as a potential game-changer in international women’s basketball.
Fans and analysts alike are now watching closely to see whether the WNBA can maintain its dominance or if Project B will lure more stars away in the coming years, reshaping the sport on a global scale.
Leave a Reply