Project B’s $2 million starting salaries and $10+ million multi-year deals are about to flip women’s basketball upside down — threatening both Unrivaled and the WNBA.
The women’s basketball world is about to experience a full-on earthquake — and its name is Project B. This brand-new Saudi-backed basketball league isn’t just another overseas gig or side hustle for WNBA stars. It’s an open challenge to everything the WNBA and Unrivaled have built. And with $2 million starting salaries and multi-year contracts reaching eight figures, it’s easy to see why the entire league ecosystem is bracing for impact.
The Birth of Project B — And Its Ruthless Ambition
Project B, founded by former Facebook executive Gideon Grady Burnett and Skype co-founder Jeff Prrenis, has officially entered the women’s basketball scene with one clear mission: disrupt everything. This isn’t a small-time operation; this is a global league, with tournaments scheduled in Asia, Europe, and Latin America beginning November 2026 through April 2027.
The money behind it? Let’s just say, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund isn’t exactly known for going halfway. And they’re already proving that by dropping NFL-level cash on players the WNBA can’t even begin to compete with.
$2 Million Base, $10 Million+ Multi-Year Deals — A Basketball Revolution
Let’s put this into perspective. The new WNBA supermax sits somewhere between $850K and $1 million. Project B’s minimum is $2 million — literally double. And the ceiling? Eight figures — that’s $10 million+ for multi-year deals.
If you’re a top WNBA star, what’s your move? Stay loyal to a league that’s still fighting for basic media coverage, or take the guaranteed millions and global exposure that Project B is offering?
Even the WNBA Players Association President, Nneka Ogwumike, couldn’t say no. She’s already signed on as the first player in Project B, and that alone has executives inside the WNBA panicking.
Unrivaled Is in Serious Trouble
For months, Unrivaled — the flashy 3v3 offseason league co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart — looked like it was going to be the next big thing for women’s basketball. It offered something the WNBA couldn’t: better pay, more flexibility, and ownership stakes for players.
But here’s the harsh truth: Unrivaled can’t compete with $2 million base salaries. Their top contracts reportedly hover around $250K, maybe more for select stars. But when Project B is offering 10x that, those players are gone before January.
One WNBA executive called it straight — “Unrivaled will be smashed into particle dust.”
WNBA Executives Are Nervous — and They Should Be
Inside sources say multiple WNBA execs are watching the Project B developments with “curiosity and concern.” While the new league’s season doesn’t directly overlap with the WNBA’s calendar, it’s still a huge indirect threat.
If CBA negotiations don’t go well, expect some stars to sit out the WNBA season altogether. Why risk burnout and smaller checks when you can play for global exposure and millions more overseas?
History already proves it’s possible. Diana Taurasi skipped the 2015 WNBA season to play for a Russian team that paid her $1.5 million, compared to her $107K WNBA salary. The same logic could apply here — only this time, the scale is way bigger.
The Hypocrisy Angle — And Why It’s Making Headlines
Now here’s where it gets spicy. Critics are already pointing out the hypocrisy of some WNBA players who’ve spent years championing social causes — only to jump at a Saudi-funded offer.
It’s not necessarily the Saudi money itself that’s controversial — it’s the speed of the sellout. As one commentator bluntly put it:
“Every one of these players has been screaming about equality and rights, but the moment someone flashes a couple million bucks, they’re like, ‘Forget it, I’m out.’”
That kind of narrative is exactly what’s fueling online debates right now. It’s the same moral tug-of-war we saw when LIV Golf launched — and now, it’s come to women’s basketball.
A Media Rights Deal Could Change Everything
Project B isn’t trying to be a charity. With global tournaments, international investors, and heavy media buzz, it’s only a matter of time before a major network or streaming service picks up the broadcasting rights.
And if that happens? Expect a massive talent migration. Stars like Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones — who haven’t signed exclusive Unrivaled deals — would be the prime targets.
If Project B lands even half of those names, the WNBA’s offseason — and possibly its future — will never look the same again.
Unrivaled Responds — But It Might Be Too Late
Unrivaled President Alex Bazzell released a carefully worded statement, saying:
“We remain consistent in our approach to pay players competitively, provide meaningful stakes in the business, and keep them home year-round.”
It’s a strong message — but when the other league is paying ten times more, that “competitive” part starts to sound like wishful thinking.
Unrivaled may have built a player-first culture, but money talks. And Project B is shouting louder than anyone else.
What Happens Next?
The WNBA’s collective bargaining deadline has already been pushed to November 30th, and that date suddenly feels a lot more urgent. Every executive in the league now knows: one wrong move, and Project B will swoop in to grab their biggest stars.
Meanwhile, fans are split. Some say the competition will finally force the WNBA to pay players what they deserve. Others worry this is the beginning of a fractured system that could leave the league struggling to survive.
Either way, the clock’s ticking — and Project B just dropped a bomb on the women’s basketball world that no one can ignore.
Conclusion:
What started as whispers about a new “international league” has turned into a full-blown power shift in women’s basketball. With $2 million starting salaries, equity stakes, and worldwide exposure, Project B is about to test how much loyalty the WNBA’s stars truly have.
Unrivaled? It’s on the ropes.
The WNBA? It’s officially on notice.
And Project B? It just became the most dangerous player in the game.
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