Women’s basketball is booming, but the next wave of growth may come from outside the WNBA.

Project B — a planned international league aiming for a late-2026 launch — added another high-profile name with the commitment of Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, signaling the latest escalation in a rapidly intensifying competition for talent.

Cunningham’s move arrives as women’s basketball enters a moment of unprecedented visibility. College stars have turned into household names, attendance and viewership are climbing, and new investors are treating the sport as one of the safest bets in global sports. But the WNBA is no longer the lone destination. Rival ventures continue to surface, including Unrivaled, which debuted last year, and now Project B, which has positioned itself as the most aggressive challenger yet.

Cunningham, who built her pro reputation over six seasons in Phoenix before being traded to Indiana, has seen her profile rise further alongside Caitlin Clark. Her willingness to take on marquee defensive assignments — including Clark herself — has made her one of the more polarizing and talked-about players in the league. Project B quickly identified her as another foundational piece as it assembles a roster of established stars.

Project B has already secured commitments from Nneka Ogwumike, Jonquel Jones, Alyssa Thomas, Kelsey Mitchell and Jewell Loyd, bringing together a decorated core with MVPs, All-WNBA selections and franchise pillars.

The league, founded by former Facebook and Skype executives, is betting that a tech-driven approach to competition, distribution and marketing can reshape the global ecosystem for women’s sports. Its planned format mirrors a Formula 1-style circuit, featuring six teams of 11 players traveling through multiple international cities for a seven-week series of tournaments.

In recent months, Project B has moved aggressively with salary offerings that dwarfed current WNBA earnings. Multiple players have been approached with deals reportedly worth up to $2 million — plus the unprecedented lure of early equity in the league. That combination has given the upstart venture immediate credibility and a foothold among the sport’s biggest names.

Early scheduling plans indicate Project B will not overlap with the WNBA calendar, allowing players to participate in both leagues without conflict. That timing is especially relevant as the WNBA begins early stages of CBA negotiations, where revenue sharing and salary structure are expected to be major sticking points. Any industry uncertainty creates opportunity, and Project B is openly positioning itself as an appealing alternative.

Cunningham’s arrival also invites the league’s most speculative — and potentially transformative — question: whether Clark could eventually join her. Clark’s impact on attendance, merchandise and broadcast numbers since entering the WNBA has made her the most influential American basketball prospect in a generation. Any league able to add her would immediately elevate its global profile.

Project B’s interest is no secret, and Cunningham’s presence only heightens the intrigue. In an environment where players increasingly consider financial opportunity, workload balance and global influence, the decisions of star athletes carry enormous weight.

For now, Project B continues to build momentum while awaiting its 2026 debut. Cunningham becomes its newest headline signing — and possibly a catalyst for the largest talent tug-of-war women’s basketball has ever seen.