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Alyssa Thomas, a six-time WNBA All-Star, and one of the league’s most versatile forwards, has become the latest star to join the emerging international women’s basketball league, Project B.
The league confirmed Tuesday that Thomas, currently with the Phoenix Mercury, has signed on as a player-partner. She joins Nneka Ogwumike among the early group of marquee names committing to the new venture, which is set to debut in late 2026.
Project B aims to reshape the global basketball calendar with a 10-to-12-week season staged across major international cities. Each team will feature 11 players and salaries for top talent are expected to reach $2 million per season – far higher than most professional women’s leagues worldwide. Players will also hold equity stakes, giving them a direct role in the league’s growth.
This approach differs from Unrivaled Basketball – another player-founded league by Breanna Stewart and Naphessa Collier. Unrivaled is a U.S.- based competition designed as a smaller, faster-paced offseason league that will feature two-on-two and three-on-three formats in a single city.
“I’m chasing purpose, not perfection. The real victory is what you leave behind for the next generation,” Thomas said in an announcement shared on social media.
Thomas’ signing underscores the growing momentum behind Project B. The league’s founders – including a mix of former executives, investors and athletes – are positioning it as a complement rather than a competitor to the WNBA. Because its season will run during the WNBA offseason, players like Thomas can continue their U.S. commitments while expanding internationally.
Known for her consistency and all-around game, Thomas averaged near triple-double numbers last season and has been recognized as one of the WNBA’s toughest competitors. Her addition to Project B follows a strong year of women’s basketball visibility, field by record breaking WNBA ratings and increased investment from major sponsors.
Both leagues aim to create new avenues for women’s basketball. As Project B prepares to debut and Unrivaled prepares for its second season, both reflect the same truth: women’s basketball is no longer waiting for permission to grow – it’s building its own future, one league at a time.
