Alyssa Thomas Joins New Basketball League

Alyssa Thomas is the second high-profile WNBA player to join Project B.

May 23, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (3) dribbles the ball towards the basket while defended by Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) during the second half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images / Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

In the midst of a labor standoff between the WNBA's players union and the league office, Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury has announced (via Instagram) that she's joining Project B. It's a major move for the upstart league, a venture so new it doesn't even have its official name yet, and one that could further legitimize yet another competitor to the WNBA.

The union and the league have extended the deadline to negotiate the new CBA but there has been little movement toward a resolution, and the status of the 2026 WNBA season is still up in the air. Players, Thomas included, have gone on the record as saying they're preparing for a potential lockout.

Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) reacts after a foul by the Las Vegas Aces in Game Four of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on Oct. 10, 2025, in Phoenix. / Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

While the world's most famous women's basketball league is undergoing massive change during a time of rapid growth, new alternative leagues have been popping up, most notably Unrivaled, a 3X3 league that has proven popular amongst WNBA players looking to make good money (and receive better treatment) during the W's offseason. But recently, Project B, a new league with a supposed "F1-style" scheduling model (which will take place entirely during the WNBA offseason) has emerged as a potentially lucrative option, offering players equity stakes in the league.

Reportedly, the salaries will be higher than those of both the WNBA and Unrivaled, which could result in an arms race of sorts as the leagues battle to provide the most attractive incentives to top talent. With Nneka Ogwumike already publicly on board, Project B now has commitments from two of the world's best women's basketball players.

Oct 8, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) dribbles the ball past Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) in the second half during game three of the 2025 WNBA Finals at PHX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The new league has also attracted a lot of attention for its ties to Saudi Arabia. Per Front Office Sports, the Saudi Investment Fund's subsidiary, Sela, is an events partner, but cofounder Grady Burnett claims there will be no direct financial backing from Saudi Arabia. As is typical of its tech startup-esque model, the full financial details of the league, including how much capital has been raised, are still unclear.

The host cities for the league's various tournaments have not yet been announced, but the league is expected to have a global presence, with games on multiple continents.

Oct 8, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) and Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) talk during a time out in the second half during game three of the 2025 WNBA Finals at PHX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Many of the details of the new project are still under wraps, but this is a huge announcement at a pivotal moment in the history of women's professional basketball. And for one of the world's best players, this could shape up to be a legacy-defining move.

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