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<\/p>\nAs the October 31st deadline looms with no signs of an agreement between the WNBPA and the WNBA, the future of the league feels uncertain. Everyone is watching, and no one really knows what the coming weeks will bring. Many believe Napheesa Collier\u2019s pointed comments about Cathy Engelbert were a push to grow her league, Unrivaled. But what if I told you there\u2019s another league on the horizon\u2013one that could not only rival Unrivaled but also attract big names like Caitlin Clark?<\/p>\n
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\u201c50 million was one of the numbers that they could reportedly throw at a player like Caitlin Clark,\u201d said Rachel DeMita on the latest episode of her podcast, talking about this emerging league. You might be wondering\u2013what league in the world could possibly afford that kind of money? Meet Project B, the brainchild of Grady Burnett, a former Google and Facebook executive.<\/p>\n
Project B is shaping up to be a new global sports league for women\u2019s basketball, with big names like Candace Parker, Steve Young, Novak Djokovic, and Sloane Stephens involved as investors and advisors. But perhaps the most significant backer is Sela, an entertainment company owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund. According to Grady Burnett, the league is aiming to launch next fall and will run from November through April, carefully avoiding any overlap with the WNBA season.<\/p>\n
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With Saudi backing, it\u2019s no surprise this league could offer eye-popping money to stars like Caitlin Clark. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) has already transformed the landscape of Saudi football, attracting players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. \u201cI could see them going after players like Caitlin, like Angel, like Paige, like A\u2019ja. Could you imagine what would happen to the WNBA if they get some of the league\u2019s biggest stars?\u201d Rachel DeMita said, highlighting that league officials are widely expected to aggressively pursue top talent to compete exclusively in their new venture.<\/p>\n
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via Imago<\/p>\n
Aug 31, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (center) reacts during the third quarter against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Could we see a timeline where Caitlin Clark pulls a Diana Taurasi and plays in Project B for a season before returning to the WNBA, similar to how the White Mamba spent time in Russia? It\u2019s not far-fetched, but there are hurdles to consider. After all, Caitlin reportedly rejected a $15 million offer to play in the Big3. Would she be willing to join a league with six teams of 11 players each, competing in seven two-week tournaments across Asia, Europe, and the Americas? Well, DeMita shared her own experience with Saudi projects, highlighting aspects that could make the opportunity appealing enough to lure Clark in as well.<\/p>\n
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\u201cLast thing I\u2019ll mention is, I know I\u2019ve said before that I don\u2019t see Caitlin Clark ever playing in the EuroLeague because I don\u2019t think they have the infrastructure for her. I think Saudi Arabia could make that happen. I actually did a TED talk there. They paid me very well and took care of us\u2014it felt like we were royalty. We stayed in the nicest hotel, had a chaperone and someone with us at all times, car service, everything first class. I could easily see them rolling out the red carpet for Caitlin Clark and giving her whatever she wanted,\u201d she said.<\/a><\/p>\n For women athletes, safety and world-class facilities matter just as much as the paycheck. WNBA players have spent decades fighting for things many now take for granted\u2013chartered flights, proper practice spaces\u2013and even today, the standards aren\u2019t always there. Players still worry about safety, and some are stuck practicing in school gyms. That\u2019s why a league backed by Saudi money changes the game entirely. First-class treatment, state-of-the-art facilities, and every detail taken care of\u2013it\u2019s the kind of setup that could make someone like Caitlin Clark seriously consider taking the leap.<\/p>\n