TL;DR
- Sophie Cunningham joins Project B, a new women's basketball league touring Asia and Europe starting 2026.
- Cunningham will earn over $2 million salary and receive a portion of ownership in Project B.
- This salary significantly surpasses her WNBA earnings and impacts WNBA's bargaining power.
- Project B plans a Formula 1-style schedule with seven global competitions from November 2026 to April 2027.
Sophie Cunningham was confirmed on Tuesday as the newest player to sign with the Project B startup, a new 5-on-5 women's basketball league scheduled to tour Asia and Europe starting in 2026.
Cunningham, an Indiana Fever fan favorite who has come to be known as Caitlin Clark's "enforcer," joins Kelsey Mitchell as the second Fever player to join Project B. In a post on X confirming her participation, Cunningham said "unlimited Arby's for life amirite?"
That may be a humorous way to talk about the salary she will be earning in the new overseas league, but compared to what Cunningham and the WNBA's top players earn domestically, the Project B package is no joke.
Cunningham fined $2M salary
Similar to the eight athletes revealed previously, Cunningham will receive a portion of ownership in Project B. This initiative plans to adopt a schedule reminiscent of Formula 1, featuring seven two-week competitions globally from November 2026 through April 2027.
Cunningham will not only be a Project B partner; she will earn a salary north of $2 million, as Front Office Sports has reported.
PLAYER. PARTNER. OWNER. Sophie Cunningham
— PROJECT B (@projectb_global) November 25, 2025
"Excited to join Project B’s athlete roster as they launch a new chapter in women’s basketball. Our game is exploding in popularity, and I’m all in on carrying that momentum forward in any way I can, both at home in the US and beyond."… pic.twitter.com/1alEG4u9MQ
The $2 million salary is dwarfed by the $100,000 Cunningham received upon her arrival with The Fever via a trade from the Phoenix Mercury back in February. This figure is approximately eight times the WNBA's maximum salary of $249,244.
With the WNBA experiencing ongoing labor disputes due to lengthy collective bargaining talks with the WNBPA, the impending threat of Project B diminishes the league's bargaining power as it strives for a landmark new CBA.
That is because even WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike has opted to take the money that is on offer from Project B -- and dozens more players are expected to follow in the months ahead.
More WNBA news:
- The reason why Caitlin Clark fans are mad at USA Basketball again
- Sophie Cunningham supports Michael Porter Jr. Amid controversial assertion about the WNBA
- This is how much money Caitlin Clark would make under the WNBA's proposed CBA
- Wings encouraged to pair Paige Bueckers with 'best shooter in America' after WNBA draft lottery
- Why WNBA lockout chances just rose significantly