Project B, the planned international women’s basketball league scheduled to begin competition next year, has added a significant new name: the Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham.
A former Missouri standout, Cunningham spent the first six years of her career in Phoenix. A trade to Indiana united her with Caitlin Clark, and Cunningham immediately drew attention for her willingness to defend Clark. Cunningham joins WNBA All-Stars Nneka Ogwumike, Kelsey Mitchell, Jonquel Jones, Alyssa Thomas and Jewell Loyd, among others, who have committed to play for Project B.
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Designed as a global sports enterprise, with an array of international investors, Project B is planning for a late 2026 start to its women’s basketball league. Founded by former Facebook and Skype executives, Project B’s strategy is to apply tech-style disruption and social media distribution to the world of sports, starting with women’s basketball.
Project B intends to create a worldwide Formula 1-style series of traveling tournaments, pitting six teams of 11 players apiece against one another over the course of seven weeks.
Now in the midst of labor negotiations while enjoying a wave of popularity led in large part by Clark, the WNBA is a ripe target for disruption. Project B would play during the WNBA’s offseason, but has already pledged to pay significantly higher salaries than the WNBA, while offering equity stakes to players joining early.
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Cunningham’s presence could be the key to unlocking a significant opportunity for Project B: the addition of Clark to its roster. Clark’s domestic popularity could buttress the endeavor as it makes a play to establish itself on the international stage.