Indiana Fever guards Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham are the latest WNBA players to commit to the fast-rising women’s basketball startup league Project B, which is set to officially launch across Europe, Asia, and Latin America in 2026.
The league announced on Monday and Tuesday that both Fever standouts will join its rapidly growing roster of elite athletes — a list that already features major names such as Nneka Ogwumike of the Seattle Storm and Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury. Just like Ogwumike and Thomas, Mitchell and Cunningham will also receive ownership stakes in the new league, giving players not just a platform but a real share in its future.
Mitchell expressed excitement about the league’s vision, calling Project B “the next evolution of women’s basketball.” She added that she’s honored to join a movement designed to elevate the women’s game on a global stage.
Cunningham echoed her teammate, saying she’s thrilled to help usher in a new era for the sport. Known for her outspoken critiques of certain WNBA policies, Cunningham praised Project B’s ambitious direction, emphasizing that women’s basketball is “exploding in popularity” and she wants to help keep pushing that momentum forward both in the U.S. and internationally.
Mitchell and Cunningham become the eighth and ninth players officially announced by Project B. Other athletes who have signed on include
Founded by former Facebook executive Grady Burnett and Skype co-founder Geoff Prentice, Project B aims to revolutionize the women’s basketball landscape. The league will feature six teams, each with 11 players, competing in a traveling-circuit format similar to tennis or golf. It will run from November 2026 to April 2027.
One of the biggest draws? Compensation.
With WNBA players still in tough CBA negotiations, Project B is reportedly offering salaries starting at $2 million per season, positioning itself as a major disruptor in the women’s sports marketplace
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