Alyssa Thomas Joins Project B, New Women’s Basketball League
The outstanding basketball player, Alyssa Thomas, finalist for the WNBA MVP award, has been announced as the second player to join Project B. This new women’s basketball league is scheduled to start in Europe and Asia in November 2026. The Phoenix Mercury star made her decision public through social media, a week after Nneka Ogwumike revealed her intention to participate in the league, which offers players high salaries and equity participation.Thomas led the Phoenix Mercury to the WNBA Finals last season, before the team fell to the Las Vegas Aces. The 6’2″ forward played her first 11 seasons with the Connecticut Sun, leading them to the WNBA Finals twice and earning five All-Star nominations. At 33 years old, Thomas has played abroad during the off-seasons, before joining Unrivaled in its inaugural season last year. He will return this January to the 3-on-3 league, which also features many prominent WNBA players. The B Project and Unrivaled will have overlapping dates in the future. The B Project will have 66 players divided into six teams. Each player will receive a salary higher than those currently offered in the WNBA. They are also expected to be higher than those of Unrivaled. Although financial details haven’t been disclosed, the possibility of more lucrative compensation comes at a crucial time for women’s professional basketball. As interest in the sport has increased in recent years, the WNBA and the players’ union are immersed in tense negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement, with much of the dispute centered on salaries and revenue distribution.Alyssa is the type of player and person around whom a team is built. Her leadership, competitiveness, and professionalism elevate everyone around her. As one of the most respected players in the world, she represents the new era of partnership with players and global competition that the B Project champions.
Alana Beard, Director of Basketball of the B Project
Project B plans to play its inaugural season until April 2027, which would not interfere with the usual WNBA schedule.
