Former WNBA MVP Joins New League Project B Amid WNBA Contract Talks
Former WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike has become the first player to officially sign with Project B, a new professional women’s basketball league preparing to launch in 2026. The league, which plans to host teams in Europe and Asia, aims to offer players a combination of higher salaries and equity stakes. Notably, this model is rarely seen in women’s sports. Ogwumike’s signing signals Project B’s growing momentum as it seeks to attract 66 elite players to fill six rosters of 11 players each. The move also highlights how players are exploring new options amid increasing demand for fair compensation and shared ownership in the sport.
While the financial details of Ogwumike’s deal remain undisclosed, Project B officials have emphasized that player salaries will exceed those currently offered by the WNBA. This development comes as the WNBA and its players’ union remain locked in contentious collective bargaining agreement negotiations, with salary structure and revenue sharing at the center of the debate. As viewership and fan engagement for women’s basketball continues to rise, many athletes have become more vocal about seeking financial models that match their growing market value. Project B’s promise of both income and investment opportunities could challenge the WNBA’s long-standing pay structure and reshape the professional landscape for female professional athletes.
For Ogwumike, who also serves as president of the WNBA Players Association, the decision to join Project B was rooted in the league’s equity-based model. She told The Associated Press that having an ownership stake represented a meaningful shift in how women athletes are valued and empowered. “It’s not something that’s usually offered to us,” Ogwumike said. “So, for there to be an entry level of equity across the board was eye-catching. It’s something that I stand for, obviously.”
Her signing could encourage other veteran players to consider similar ventures that prioritize long-term financial stability and influence within the game. As the WNBA and its players recently agreed to extend their CBA deadline by 30 days, the tension between loyalty and opportunity has never been clearer. Ogwumike’s move underscores both the progress and limitations within the current system. If Project B succeeds, it could redefine how women’s basketball operates globally, not just as a sport, but as a business built by and for its players.
