The WNBA CBA saga is nowhere near its end. More than 15 months, two extensions, and countless meetings later, the two sides still differ on many key points. The deadline of January 9 passed, and there was no extension. The two parties signed a moratorium agreement to pause free agency in the status quo. “The players know the difference between doing business and creating clickbait. They are focused on the system.” WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson said. As the WNBA struggles to renew its CBA, its new-age competitor Project B has made a major move. 

The new league has announced its first location: Tokyo, Japan, with events scheduled from March 26 to April 4, 2027. The league is expected to run from November 2026 through April 2027. “This will likely be one of their last tour stops. The league just announced it as the first confirmed tour stop, meaning it’s the first location they have a contract in place with,” Annie Costabile noted. 

“We’re honored to bring Project B to Tokyo alongside our partners in Japan,” said Keisuke Mitsui, head of Project B Japan. “Tokyo sits at the intersection of global culture, innovation, and basketball, with a fan base that truly understands and loves the game. Japan has shown what’s possible when you invest in players and fans, and Toyota Arena will be an iconic stage for our athletes and a destination for basketball fans around the world.”

The 5 vs 5 Project B is ramping up, and even though it’s modeled as an offseason league, the dates clash with what the WNBA plans to do. “WNBA training camp began April 27 last year, and as we know, one of the proposals being discussed in CBA negotiations is an earlier start date,” Costabile wrote. The proposal Costabile mentions has the WNBA starting mid-March, which was rejected by the WNBPA. 

But the intention is clear: the WNBA wants an earlier start date with a major expansion coming up. The league already went from 40 to 44 games, and Cathy Engelbert hinted in May 2025 that she definitely sees the WNBA “going to 50 [regular season games].” Realistically, they can’t extend beyond October as the NBA and the wider American sports have their seasons commencing. 

Currently, six WNBA teams share arenas with NBA/NHL teams, causing a conflict, and it also poses difficulty getting broadcasting slots. So, the easier solution is to start earlier than April. Project B has already signed 10 WNBA players, including WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike and Alyssa Thomas. If a conflict arises, these players would likely have to choose. 

The financial ledger favors Project B. WNBA’s latest CBA proposal includes maximum salaries above $1.3 million, but that would go to a limited number of players. In comparison, “multiple stars are being offered seven-figure salaries (by Project B) starting at $2 million annually, with their earnings for multiyear deals reaching eight figures,” and equity, according to Front Office Sports. The players are likely to favor Project B over WNBA. While this move came as bad news to the WNBA league office and the commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, they made another announcement that could signal something positive. 

New Project B Signing Signals WNBA Coexistence

No player wants to play all year. For their fitness and health, they need an offseason, especially after traveling all over the world. So even if the schedules technically align, it’s unlikely many players would attempt playing both. The WNBA risks losing players. However, Project B’s latest signing suggests the WNBA might still manage the talent overlap.

The league has signed Mai Yamamoto, the guard playing for Toyota Antelopes in Japan. She signed a training camp contract with the Dallas Wings in 2025 but was waived before the season began. “I want to use this global stage to show the world ‘Japanese Dynamism’ – our unique speed and passion,” she said in the announcement. “I want to prove that our style of basketball can challenge the world and inspire the next generation to believe that they can stand on this stage too.”

Project B wants to build a touring model, much like Formula One. However, to do that, they will need local support in each of the cities they go to. Yamamoto brings them the marketing punch that will allow a Japanese flavor to their promotional activities and form personal bonds. They won’t get elite WNBA athletes from each visiting country, and will sign non-WNBA athletes as well. 

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As a result, some of the athletes of the 66-player roster won’t be playing in the WNBA at all. The WNBA has a much longer roster with more than 200 players expected to play in the league in 2026. Even if the league loses some players, the ratio is expected to be sustainable. For now, Project B’s rise may pressure the WNBA. But it might also reshape the ecosystem in a way that leagues and players ultimately benefit.