Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham recently shared insights about her new basketball startup, Project B, revealing that she invited teammate Caitlin Clark to join. On her podcast, Show Me Something, Sophie Cunningham & West Wilson, she discussed the rise of leagues outside the WNBA, noting that while many American players compete in offseason leagues like Project B, Unrivaled, or Athletes Unlimited, Clark was not among them. Cunningham emphasized that despite these alternatives, the WNBA remains the main platform for visibility and recognition, with Clark choosing to stay with the WNBA rather than join Project B.
USA TODAY reached out to Cunningham for further remarks. Although Clark initially declined Cunningham’s invitation, he expressed excitement about playing alongside Kelsey Mitchell in Project B. After hearing more about the league’s benefits, including generous pay and chartered flights, Clark eventually signed on. Cunningham also dispelled rumors about Saudi Arabian involvement, clarifying that Project B is funded by four wealthy tech companies.
Cunningham praised the league’s leadership and highlighted the opportunity for players to build their brand globally while staying in peak condition through year-round play. Besides Cunningham and Mitchell, notable WNBA players like Nneka Ogwumike, Alyssa Thomas, Jonquel Jones, Leonie Fibich, Jewell Lloyd, Camila Cardoso, Lee Meng, Janelle Saraun, and Juste Joikte have joined Project B, which was founded by former Facebook executive Grady Burnett and Skype co-founder Geoff Prentice.
Project B is set to operate from November 2026 to April 2027, featuring six teams of 11 players each, competing on an international tour. The league aims to address player compensation—a key topic in the WNBA’s ongoing collective bargaining agreement (CBA) talks—promising salaries starting at $2 million annually.
Fan Take: This development is significant for WNBA fans as it signals potential shifts in the professional women’s basketball landscape, offering players more lucrative options and raising the bar for athlete compensation. Project B could challenge the WNBA to innovate and enhance its offerings, ultimately benefiting the sport by increasing visibility and support for women’s basketball worldwide.
