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Phoenix Mercury All-Star forward Alyssa Thomas is the latest WNBA All-Star to sign with Project B, a women’s basketball startup league that is expected to tip off in Europe, Asia and Latin America in November 2026.
Project B announced Tuesday that Thomas will join the league as a “player,” “partner” and “owner,” emphasizing the league’s pledge to offer unprecedented salaries and an equity stake in the startup. In a social media video shared on the league’s platform, Thomas said she’s “looking forward to joining Project B.”
Thomas is the second player to sign on with the startup league founded by former Facebook executive Grady Burnett and Skype co-founder Geoff Prentice. Seattle Storm forward and WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike was the first.
Project B, which will be made up of six teams of 11, will be played on a traveling circuit, similar to F1 racing, golf and tennis. The league’s main selling point is a promise to dish out salaries larger than the WNBA ($66,079- $249,244 per season) and Unrivaled ($220,000 per season). Front Office Sports reported that player deals will reach seven-figures and start at $2 million annually.
PROJECT B: Nneka Ogwumike signs to startup league, set to launch in 2026
WOMEN’S SPORTS: The latest news and insider insights from USA TODAY Studio IX.
Project B is the latest basketball league created in addition to WNBA, following 3-on-3 Unrivaled which played its first season last winter. Like Unrivaled, Project B has put an emphasis on player compensation, which remains a point of contention as WNBA players continue to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with the WNBA.
Thomas led the Mercury to the 2025 WNBA Finals in her first season in Phoenix after posting a league-high eight triple-doubles in the regular season. Thomas signed on to participate in the second season of Unrivaled, which tips off in January. She will be a member of the Laces.
According to ESPN, Project B season will run through April 2027 and will not overlap with the WNBA season.
Contributing: Heather Burns
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