Alyssa Thomas is officially joining Project B, becoming the second major WNBA All-Star to sign with the startup women’s basketball league set to debut in November 2026. Thomas joins Nneka Ogwumike as the first pair of veteran stars to commit to the league, which plans to run a global 11-week schedule spanning from November 2026 to April 2027.

The announcement signals continued momentum for the Saudi-backed league, which has drawn attention for its ambitious financial model. Project B is offering players sizable contracts and equity stakes, aiming to position itself as a lucrative offseason alternative to overseas play. Among its investors are several notable sports figures, including Candace Parker, and its leadership is being spearheaded by former WNBA star Alana Beard, who serves as chief basketball officer.

Beard, who has been instrumental in recruiting top-tier talent, said Thomas represents the kind of cornerstone player the league hopes to build around.

“Alyssa is the kind of player and person you build around,” Beard told the Associated Press. “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 player partnership and global competition that Project B stands for.”

Thomas’ move marks a shift in the growing ecosystem of offseason opportunities for women’s basketball players. She competed in the inaugural season of Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 league co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, and was expected to return this spring. However, Project B’s schedule will overlap with Unrivaled’s, meaning Thomas will not participate in the 2026–27 Unrivaled season.

The competition between Project B and Unrivaled reflects a rapidly expanding market for women’s basketball talent. Both leagues are offering high salaries and increased visibility during the WNBA offseason — a sharp contrast to traditional overseas play. Their rise also coincides with an ongoing collective bargaining negotiation between the WNBA and the players’ union, where players have sought higher salaries and a larger guaranteed share of league revenues.

The emergence of leagues like Project B and Unrivaled has intensified the leverage players hold in those negotiations. With credible alternatives now available, the WNBA faces increased pressure to address compensation and player empowerment in its next agreement.

The challenge for Project B, however, may lie in convincing younger stars to follow. Ogwumike will be 36 and Thomas 34 when the league begins play next fall, while Unrivaled has already secured younger faces like Paige Bueckers to headline its roster. Project B’s global format — inspired in part by LIV Golf’s model — may appeal more to veterans seeking new experiences and financial incentives than to players still establishing themselves in the WNBA.

Comparisons to LIV Golf have been unavoidable given Project B’s funding from the Saudi Public Investment Fund. But unlike LIV’s disruption of the PGA Tour, Project B is not asking athletes to abandon the WNBA entirely, instead offering an offseason opportunity with higher pay and equity participation.

Still, its long-term success will depend on landing the biggest names yet to commit — including Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson — whose involvement could instantly elevate the league’s visibility and credibility.

For now, the addition of Thomas represents a major recruiting win and another step toward legitimizing Project B as a global player in the women’s basketball landscape.