Project B Is Offering WNBA Stars Multimillion-Dollar Salaries

Project B, a new global basketball league, has announced plans to host tournaments across Asia, Europe, and Latin America from November 2026 through April 2027, aiming to disrupt the women's basketball landscape traditionally dominated by the WNBA and EuroLeague. Founded by former Facebook executive Grady Burnett and Skype cofounder Geoff Prentice, the league will operate during the fall, winter, and spring, adding to recent competitions like Athletes Unlimited and Unrivaled.

The league has secured Seattle Storm star and WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike as its first player, with multiple sources confirming that other WNBA players have also signed deals. Project B is offering substantial financial incentives, including seven-figure salaries starting at $2 million annually and equity in the league, similar to Unrivaled, which could attract top talent and intensify competition.

WNBA executives have expressed curiosity about Project B, a 5-on-5 league featuring six teams of 11 players, and raised concerns about its potential indirect threat to the WNBA. Sources suggest that if CBA negotiations continue poorly, some players might forgo the WNBA season, citing historical precedents like Diana Taurasi skipping the 2015 season for higher pay overseas and recent cases of players missing time due to prioritization rules.

The signing of Ogwumike is viewed by some executives as a strategic move to pressure labor negotiations, echoing actions from last year when union leaders cofounded Unrivaled. With the WNBA and players' union extending CBA negotiations to November 30, the league has not commented on Project B's potential impact, highlighting ongoing uncertainties in the sport.

Project B poses an immediate threat to Unrivaled and other foreign leagues operating in the WNBA offseason, as their seasons directly conflict. Unrivaled's exclusivity clauses for its nearly 30 multiyear-contract players could limit availability for Project B, similar to how EuroLeague players are departing for Unrivaled, though it remains unclear if Project B will offer similar concessions.