WNBA star Nneka Ogwumike has signed with Project B, a new women’s professional basketball league.
The former WNBA MVP and Seattle Storm forward is the first player known to have signed with the new women’s league, which is expected to launch in November next year in Asia and Europe. Project B players will receive an undisclosed salary plus an equity stake in the league.
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League officials for Project B have stated the 66 players across six teams will earn higher salaries than those currently offered in the WNBA. Interest in women’s professional basketball has never been higher, and with the possibility of a WNBA lockout looming, more lucrative contracts elsewhere could not have come at a better time.
“It’s not something that’s usually offered to us, and by us, I mean women athletes,” 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.”
Ogwumike is the union president for the WNBPA and is currently involved with negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. The eight-time All-WNBA player wants the equity stake to become a standard in leagues moving forward, especially the WNBA.
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“There’s so many different opportunities for players outside of [the WNBA] and that’s always been the case,” Ogwumike said. “This is just another one of those opportunities and I know that a lot of players are doing what they can to ensure that they can maximize on the short time that they have in their playing careers. This is my chance to be able to do that.”
Project B plans to stream its games and will have players competing on a traveling circuit similar to other sports, like golf and tennis. Chief basketball officer Alana Beard says Project B has also signed other top WNBA players, although those names have yet to be announced. This new women’s league is the collective brainchild of Skype cofounder Geoff Prentice and former Facebook executive Grady Burnett.
Last season, Ogwumike averaged 18.3 points, 7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. She was named an All-Star for the 10th time and took home second-team All-WNBA honors. Nneka is also the sister of former WNBA player and ESPN basketball analyst Chiney Ogwumike.