You know it's a glorious time in women's basketball when there are so many professional leagues popping up that it's difficult to keep track of them. That list includes Project B, a 5x5 league that has backing from NBA players and that will debut after the 2026 season — and has already snagged top WNBA talent.
Nneka Ogwumike, president of the WNBPA and Seattle Storm forward, announced her decision to sign with Project B on Wednesday. Ogwumike has not disclosed any additional information, but the league is set to debut in Europe and Asia next November.
The news prompted a lot of questions about the upcoming league, so let's dive in to what we know.
What is the women's basketball league Project B?
Project B was dreamt up by Skype cofounder Geoff Prentice and former Facebook executive Grady Burnett. The league will play 5x5 basketball and boast six teams made up of 11 players.
Who is backing Project B?
In addition to Candace Parker, Steve Young, Novak Djokovic, and Sloane Stephens, LeBron James reportedly has an advisory role in the league. It is also receiving funding from Sela, a company based in Saudi Arabia.
Will Diana Taurasi play in the Project B basketball league?
In addition to Ogwumike, the league has reportedly already signed other WNBA stars — and it appears have even approached Diana Taurasi about joining. Taurasi addressed the possibility of playing in the league in an October interview.
"It’s an interesting proposition, you know, I think, the beauty of sports is having opportunities all over the world to play the sport you love," the Associated Press quoted her as saying. "And obviously, we have that with the WNBA. We have that with Unrivaled. We have that with Europe. The potential of having a league in, in Saudi Arabia seems unconventional."
Taurasi then added that in some ways, the location of the league might be "perfect."
How much will Project B pay WNBA players?
The salaries for WNBA players signed to Project B have not been disclosed, but players will receive an equity stake in the league, something Ogwumike commented on.
"There's so many different opportunities for players outside of (the WNBA) and that's always been the case," she told ESPN. "This is just another one of those opportunities and I know that a lot of players are doing what they can to ensure that they can maximize on the short time that they have in their playing careers. This is my chance to be able to do that."
When is the Project B basketball season?
The first season is currently set to kick off in late 2026 and run through April 2027. At present, it does not conflict with the WNBA schedule — though that could change.
Will Project B also host other sports?
Yes — it seems as if Project B intends to also build out golf, tennis, and car racing leagues.