Since Project B emerged as a new opportunity for WNBA players, fans’ reactions have ranged from excitement that players will get paid a lot of money to worry about the league’s rumored financial connections to Saudi Arabia and whether the new league could threaten the W. So far, the only things we know for sure are that Project B promises to pay players several million dollars in salaries as well as equity in the league, that games will be played in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, and that its schedule doesn’t conflict with the WNBA.
While Project B doesn’t technically conflict with the WNBA, former W star Angel McCoughtry brought up a big concern: If players can make millions playing in Project B, why wouldn’t they prioritize it over the WNBA? Former Storm star Sue Bird eased some of those concerns by bringing up how important playing in the W is for endorsement deals and general recognition.
“What gets lost when it comes to the WNBA is playing in America, being able to capitalize on endorsements, which now is a real player for these players,” Bird said on A Touch More. “A lot of these contracts—now it’s not that you can’t create a new type of contract, but I know my shoe deal, I had to play in the WNBA to get my money. So, a lot of the ecosystem that we live in as Americans playing in the WNBA revolves around playing in America.”
Later, she added, “You want to play in the best league against the best players and feel valued…And to make the point in a really dumb way, I don’t know that you win an ESPY for what you did in EuroLeague…You just don't get the notice that you should get if you’re not playing in the U.S.”
Project B still has a lot of catching up to do
There are some issues with Project B and reasons for the WNBA to be wary of the new league, but Project B has a lot of catching up to do in terms of legitimacy and popularity. While the league has the benefit of entering the picture during a time in which the hype around women’s basketball is astronomical, it doesn’t have the same history as the WNBA.
For over two decades, the WNBA has been the best league in the world and the place where all the top talent faces off. That likely won’t change anytime soon, as players like A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, and Paige Bueckers are unlikely to go anywhere. Wilson and Clark don’t even play in Unrivaled—a league made by WNBA players for their peers—and thus have little reason to join Project B.
Project B landed some big-time stars by signing Nneka Ogwumike, Alyssa Thomas, Jonquel Jones, and Jewell Loyd, but it hasn’t been connected to the biggest (and youngest) stars in the game yet. Until Project B proves to be a legitimate competition with the best talent in the world, the WNBA should continue to be the main goal for basketball players all around the world.
Plus, it looks like WNBA salaries will increase dramatically under the new CBA. It was recently reported that the league sent out a proposal that offered a maximum salary of $1.1 million and a minimum salary of $220,000. That offer would allow players on minimum contracts to make almost as much as the highest-paid players under the 2020 CBA and vastly change the potential pay disparity between Project B and the W.