Project B, the international women’s basketball league set to begin competition next year, has added a big new name: Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever.
A former star at Missouri, Cunningham spent the first six years of his career in Phoenix. A trade with Indiana paired her with Caitlin Clark, and Cunningham immediately drew attention for her willingness to defend Clark. Cunningham is the third WNBA player, after Seattle’s Nneka Ogwumike and Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell, to join Project B.
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Designed as a global sports companywith a range of international investors, Project B plans to launch its women’s basketball league in late 2026. Founded by former Facebook and Skype executives, Project B’s strategy is to apply technological disruption and social media distribution to the world of sports, starting with women’s basketball.
Project B intends to create a global series of Formula 1-style traveling tournaments, pitting six teams of 11 players each against each other over a seven-week period.
Now in the midst of collective bargaining and riding a popularity wave led largely by Clark, the WNBA is a ripe target for disruption. Project B would play during the WNBA offseason, but has already committed to paying significantly higher salaries than the WNBA, while also offering equity stakes to players who join early.
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Cunningham’s presence could be the key to unlocking a significant opportunity for Project B: adding Clark to its roster. Clark’s national popularity could bolster his efforts as he attempts to establish himself on the international stage.
