Sophie Cunningham has recently been announced as the newest player to join Project B, an innovative 5-on-5 women’s basketball league set to tour Asia and Europe beginning in 2026. Known for her tough playstyle and as a fan favorite with the Indiana Fever, Cunningham is the second Fever player to commit to Project B, following Kelsey Mitchell. She jokingly referenced her lucrative contract in a social media post, hinting at the substantial salary she’s set to earn overseas.
Project B offers Cunningham not just a salary, but also a stake in the league, with players receiving shares of its stock. The league’s format will resemble an F1-style calendar, featuring seven two-week tournaments worldwide from November 2026 to April 2027. Cunningham is expected to make over $2 million annually — a figure starkly higher than her previous WNBA salary of around $100,000 with the Fever, which itself exceeded the WNBA’s supermax salary cap.
As the WNBA faces ongoing labor negotiations, the rise of Project B presents a significant challenge, especially since prominent players like WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike have also chosen to participate. This shift could lead more players to follow suit, potentially reshaping the future landscape of women’s professional basketball.
Fan Take: This development is a game-changer for WNBA fans, highlighting the growing opportunities and financial incentives outside the traditional league. It signals a potential shift in power and resources that could push the WNBA to evolve and better support its players.
