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Former WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike has signed a contract with Project B, the first player who is known to have joined the latest professional women’s basketball league ahead of play that is expected to begin in Europe and Asia in November 2026.
Ogwumike, like other players in the league, will get an undisclosed salary and equity stake in the league. Project B officials have said the 66 players who they want for their league — the format calls for six teams of 11 women each — will receive larger salaries than those currently offered by the WNBA. They are also expected to be higher than those at Unrivaled — the 3-on-3 league that started last year and features many top WNBA players.
While the financial specifics haven’t been disclosed, the potential of more lucrative compensation comes at an important moment for women’s professional basketball. As interest in the sport has soared in recent years, the WNBA and players union are locked in tense negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement with much of the dispute centered on salary and revenue sharing.In an interview with The Associated Press, the 35-year-old Ogwumike said the compensation package was key to her signing with Project B.
“It’s not something that’s usually offered to us, and by us, I mean women athletes,” Ogwumike said. “So, for there to be an entry level of equity across the board was eye-catching. It’s something that I stand for, obviously.”
The 35-year-old Ogwumike hopes the equity stake will be the standard for leagues going forward. She’s currently involved in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement with the WNBA, serving as the union president. The WNBA and its players recently agreed to extend their CBA for another 30 days through November, but the sides remain far apart on terms for a new deal. Project B plans to play the inaugural season through April 2027. That would not interfere with the typical WNBA calendar.
