Former WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike is making history again — this time off the court. The longtime Los Angeles Sparks forward has become the first player to sign with Project B, a new professional women’s basketball league that aims to launch internationally across Europe and Asia next winter.

The league, backed by a mix of tech and sports investors, plans to feature six teams of 11 players each and offer salaries that surpass current WNBA pay scales. Project B will also give every athlete an ownership stake, marking one of the first attempts to blend equity participation with elite women’s sports competition.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Ogwumike said the financial structure and ownership model were central to her decision to join.

“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 announcement comes during a tense stretch of collective bargaining between the WNBA and its players union. As union president, Ogwumike has been at the forefront of negotiations for a new CBA, with salary growth and revenue sharing emerging as key issues. The two sides recently agreed to extend the existing deal through November, but talks remain ongoing.

For Ogwumike, Project B represents both a new competitive outlet and an investment in the long-term future of women’s basketball.

“There’s so many different opportunities for players outside of [the WNBA] and that’s always been the case,” Ogwumike said. “This is just another one of those opportunities and I know that a lot of players are doing what they can to ensure that they can maximize on the short time that they have in their playing careers. This is my chance to be able to do that.”

Project B is expected to begin play in November 2026, with its inaugural season running through April 2027. The league will travel from city to city on a global circuit, taking inspiration from international sports like tennis, golf, and Formula One.

Beard said several other high-profile WNBA players have agreed to join, though no additional names have been revealed. A men’s counterpart league is also being explored for the future.

Project B was founded by Skype co-founder Geoff Prentice and former Facebook executive Grady Burnett, both of whom envisioned a model where athletes could benefit from the business success they help build. The league’s investor group includes tennis stars Novak Djokovic and Sloane Stephens, as well as former WNBA legend Candace Parker.

For Ogwumike, whose career has spanned more than a decade and includes a WNBA championship and MVP award, the move marks both a business venture and a statement about the next evolution of women’s basketball. Project B’s promise of ownership and global visibility could reshape how top athletes weigh their professional options — and, perhaps, redefine the power structure of the sport itself.