Sophie Cunningham Reveals Caitlin Clark’s Reaction to Project B Recruiting Push

Sophie Cunningham addressed how Caitlin Clark responded to Cunningham's attempt to lure her to the new Project B women's basketball league.
Jun 7, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Injured Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) and guard Caitlin Clark (22) react from the bench during the first half of a WNBA game against the Chicago Sky at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Jun 7, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Injured Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) and guard Caitlin Clark (22) react from the bench during the first half of a WNBA game against the Chicago Sky at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

On November 25, news broke that Sophie Cunningham would be joining the Project B women's basketball league for its inaugural season, which is set to launch in the fall of 2026.

In an X post from the new league after Cunningham's announcement, she is quoted as saying, "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."

The league will consist of five-on-five games, will feature six, 11-player teams, and is set to take place during the WNBA offseason so that it doesn't interfere with the WNBA (although it will interfere with the Unrivaled three-on-three league once both are underway next year).

Cunningham is just one of many WNBA standouts who have announced their intention to play in the league. Some of the others are her 2025 Indiana Fever teammate Kelsey Mitchell, 10-time WNBA All-Star Nneka Ogwumike, 2023 WNBA scoring champion Jewell Loyd, and six-time WNBA All-Star Alyssa Thomas.

Of course, if Project B really wanted to make waves and get the sports world talking, the best way to do so would be to lure Cunningham's Fever teammate Caitlin Clark to the league. However, there is no indication that Clark intends to take part in Project B right now, even though she'd be getting a massive bag in order to do so.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) in action against the Brazil National Team on May 4, 2025
May 4, 2025; Iowa City, IA, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) in action against the Brazil National Team at Carver-Haweye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Sophie Cunningham Admits Caitlin Clark Project B Recruiting Pitch

During a December 4 episode of her Show Me Something podcast, Cunningham admitted that she has tried to convince Clark to take her talents to Project B.

"This [league] offers a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot of money. And that's why people are, like, moving towards this," Cunningham said of Project B. She later added, "Here's the thing: All these leagues are great. But if you don't have the W[NBA], you don't have the platform. So you don't have the eyes, you don't have the recognition."

Her co-host, West Wilson, then jokingly said, "That's right, Caitlin Clark! You have the W!"

"I tried to get [Clark] to play in this [league], and she was like, 'No!'" Cunningham then said.

It sounds like Clark wasn't too keen on taking part in Project B along with Cunningham next year. But that doesn't mean she won't be open to it in the future.

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Grant Young
GRANT YOUNG

Grant Young covers Women’s Basketball, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco (USF), where he also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and played on USF’s Division I baseball team for five years. However, he now prefers Angel Reese to Angels in the Outfield.

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