Connecticut Sun Star’s Move to Project B Highlights Growing Offseason Options for WNBA Players
Alyssa Thomas officially signed with Project B this week, about a week after Nneka Ogwumike also signed to play in the new league, marking one of the league’s most significant additions and becoming the second major player to commit to Project B, a new global women's basketball league launching in November 2026. Project B is an international competition that features seven two-week tournaments across cities in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. With the addition of Alyssa Thomas, she will bring elite experience and visibility to a league that aims to redefine what an offseason can look like for WNBA athletes. Instead of the traditional method of signing with one overseas team for several months, Project B is redefining what that looks like with its fast-paced, location-changing circuit. The league has become one of the most alluring opportunities for WNBA players looking for competitive offseason play. This move immediately adds pressure for the ongoing, yet soon-ending, Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations between the WNBA and the WNBPA.
Nneka Ogwumike was among the first to join Project B, and now, with Alyssa Thomas in the mix, this league is receiving more credibility as it enters its final year of preparations. These decisions are showing how players are reevaluating their offseason priorities, especially with a change in financial models and the rise of new leagues. Project B offers unmatched earning potential, with top players reportedly receiving seven-figure salaries, and some indicating that guaranteed money could start at around two million dollars. That, alongside the intensity of the global tournament format, appeals to those like Alyssa Thomas who do best in structured, high-level environments that keep them at the top of their game. With more athletes exploring what this circuit offers, her signing shows that Project B has the attention of the WNBA’s most accomplished players. The approach Project B has of having athletes move from city to city over eleven weeks reduces long-term relocation, but still requires international travel as teams compete across multiple continents.
As the WNBA continues to expand, offseason leagues like Project B play an important role in shaping career opportunities and financial stability. For Alyssa Thomas, Project B gives her a stage that challenges her known discipline and durability to train, compete, and earn at a higher level. It also allows players to stay connected to fans across different regions, something the league aims to do through its global media rollout. Her decision highlights how there are evolving structures in women’s basketball that are creating a more varied and customized offseason option, demonstrating how players are leveraging new opportunities that give them greater control over their career path. With the strong funding and worldwide reach Project B has, they are in a position to become a major part of the growth of global circuit, domestic leagues, and media-driven platforms in this rapidly changing landscape. Alyssa Thomas joining the league isn’t just a roster decision but a powerful statement about the future of women’s basketball and the expanding possibilities of their best players.
