Project B founder denies Saudi funding — but with Saudi-owned partners involved, WNBA fans are calling foul. Here’s why the controversy is shaking up women’s basketball.
The new “Project B” basketball league was supposed to be a fresh start — big names, big money, and a global vision for women’s basketball. But just as excitement built, controversy followed. The league’s co-founder, Grady Burnett, insists there’s no Saudi money behind it. Yet the facts, connections, and contradictions are making fans skeptical, especially after WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike became the first player to sign on.
The Saudi Funding Denial — and Why No One’s Buying It
According to a report from Front Office Sports, Burnett claims Project B’s “global diversified funding” does not include any dollars from Saudi Arabia. But here’s the catch: the league’s event partner is Cella, a Saudi-owned entertainment and hospitality company that operates under the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) — the same multi-billion-dollar fund behind LIV Golf and other high-profile global ventures.
So, if your event partner is literally owned by the Saudi government’s sovereign wealth fund… isn’t that still Saudi money? Fans think so — and they’re not letting it slide.
“Just Stand on It” — The Message to Project B
The biggest frustration online isn’t just about the funding. It’s the backtracking.
When Project B was first announced, the buzz was all about major Saudi funding — and how that money could pay players millions, far beyond what the WNBA can offer. But now, after backlash and tough questions, the league’s message has changed to “No Saudi money here!”
If the league truly wants to build credibility, as Rachel DeMita put it in her viral commentary: “Stand on business. If you’re taking the money, own it.”
Because when you deny what everyone can clearly see, it looks less like strategy and more like spin.
The WNBPA’s Role Raises Eyebrows
One of the wildest parts of this saga is the WNBPA’s reaction.
The players’ union actually shared Project B’s announcement on their Instagram story — while their president, Nneka Ogwumike, is joining a rival league. That’s happening in the middle of CBA negotiations.
To a lot of fans, that feels like a major conflict of interest. How can the same leadership group negotiate fair pay and benefits for WNBA players while promoting a league that wants to compete with the WNBA itself?
The Activist League Dilemma
The WNBA has long branded itself as an activist league — outspoken on human rights, equality, and social justice.
So naturally, fans are asking tough questions: how can players champion those causes in one league and then turn around and work with investors tied to Saudi Arabia, a country often criticized for human rights issues?
It’s not that fans expect perfection. But the WNBA has set a very high bar for itself. When you wear the “advocacy” badge proudly, you can’t be surprised when people hold you accountable for where your money comes from.
The Bigger Picture — Money, Morals, and Messiness
Here’s the thing — everyone knows what’s happening. The money is huge. Project B is reportedly offering salaries starting at $2 million, with top players potentially making seven or eight figures. That’s life-changing.
It’s also hard to fault athletes for chasing what the WNBA still can’t provide financially. But trying to hide where the money’s coming from? That’s what’s sparking backlash.
As more players sign with Project B — and they will — the tension between activism and ambition is only going to grow louder.
Fans Aren’t Falling for the PR
Scroll through the comments on social media and you’ll see the sentiment:
“If it walks like Saudi money and talks like Saudi money… it’s Saudi money.”
People don’t mind transparency — they mind dishonesty.
The more Project B tries to rewrite its own origin story, the worse it looks. Instead of denying the obvious, fans just want honesty: say who’s funding it, what the vision is, and let players decide for themselves.
Final Thoughts — The League Needs to “Stand on Business”
At the end of the day, this all comes down to authenticity.
If Project B really wants to build something global, it should own its identity. If Saudi money is part of that story, fine — but say it. If it’s not, prove it transparently. The silence and spin are what make people suspicious.
Right now, women’s basketball deserves clarity, not confusion. Fans are tired of PR doublespeak. And as the line between business and activism blurs, one thing is certain — the truth will always come out.
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