Project B Aims to Transform Offseason Basketball
By: Clerfania Previlon
A new era of women’s basketball is coming as Project B, an international offseason league for WNBA players, launches in January 2026. Project B is the second offseason league, following in the footsteps of Unrivaled, the first of its kind.
Project B is the newest addition to the world of international pro women’s basketball and will have six 11-player teams that play 5-on-5 in two-week tournaments across Europe and Asia.
WNBA players Nneka Ogwumike and Alyssa Thomas are the first major signings to Project B. Alyssa Thomas originally played for Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 league, in their first season, but has made the switch to Project B.
"Alyssa is the kind of player and person you build around," said Alana Beard, Project B’s chief basketball officer, per the AP. "Her leadership, competitiveness, and professionalism elevate everyone around her. As one of the most respected players in the world, she represents the new era of player partnership and global competition that Project B stands for."
Basketball enthusiasts are split on the future of women's basketball. WNBA players are gaining more pay, attention, and equity in the world of basketball, but critics believe that offseason leagues pose a threat to the standing players have today.
“I think these off-season leagues will add attention towards players," said Akilah Shelton, first-year forward on Hampton’s women’s basketball team. “What excites me the most about women’s basketball gaining these new off-season platforms would definitely be the amount of money they’ll make compared to their WNBA salary. Unlike men’s basketball, the only route for women that don’t play in the WNBA would be pro ball, and even most WNBA players still play pro. Not everyone wants that, though, and going back and forth between the WNBA and overseas ball is exhausting, so these new leagues are useful to widen these players' names and career.”
New offseason leagues mark a huge step forward for pay and global reach in women’s basketball. They also raise important questions about player workload and whether multiple leagues will strengthen or strain the WNBA’s growing momentum.
