As the WNBPA and WNBA continue to battle over the new CBA, other leagues are slowly gaining ground. We’ve already seen Napheesa Collier put real pressure on commissioner Cathy Engelbert with her exit interview, with many believing it was done to give Unrivaled a boost — whatever the motive may be. And while all the noise surrounds that situation, Project B has quietly been gaining steam in the background, announcing its newest addition: Jonquel Jones.

“Hey Hoops Fines, it’s your girl JJ here. I am super ecstatic and super honoured to announce that I will be joining Project B to be able to continue to play against the best players in the world, play with the best players in the world, and be able to see new parts of the world. So let’s get it, Project B,” said Jonquel Jones after joining this new project.

Jones is now the third player, after Nneka Ogwumike and Alyssa Thomas, to join the league founded by former Google and Facebook executive Grady Burnett. And while Unrivaled will feature stars like Paige Bueckers and Kelsey Plum, Project B is clearly not falling behind, staying true to its promise of signing “multiple All-WNBA” players.

After winning both the championship and the Finals MVP with the New York Liberty in 2024, this season had been a difficult one for Jonquel Jones because of injuries. She first sprained her right ankle in an 86–78 win over the Washington Mystics on June 5, then re-aggravated it in an 89–81 loss to the Mercury on June 19. That setback kept her out for more than a month and forced her to miss 13 regular-season games.

Jones managed just 5.7 points across the three postseason games, a major drop from the 15.5 she averaged over 11 games last year. That’s what a lingering ankle injury can do, even to a star. Now she enters free agency hoping to secure a strong deal in the W, though that depends on both sides finally reaching an agreement. They’ve already taken an extension to keep talks going, but nothing is finalized yet. Still, no matter how that plays out, Jones has likely already achieved what she and others wanted from the start by signing with Project B.

Player. Partner. Owner.

That’s how Project B introduces every athlete who signs with them. The league isn’t just offering the highest salaries women’s sports has ever seen; it’s also giving players actual ownership stakes. It’s a model very similar to Unrivaled and directly addresses what WNBA players have been asking for for years: better pay and a better revenue-sharing model.

And that spells trouble for WNBA!

How Jonquel Jones’ Move to Project B Could Hurt the WNBA

Jonquel Jones won’t be the last big-name player to join Project B. Yes, the league has slowly built a reputation as a “retirement” spot where older players go for one last big paycheck, but signing Jones flips that narrative completely. We’re talking about a former WNBA MVP and the reigning Finals MVP — someone who clearly still has plenty left in the tank.

According to FOS, Project B is offering multiple WNBA stars seven-figure salaries, starting at around $2 million per year, with multi-year deals that could even reach eight figures. And while Phee and Stewie have both made it clear that they will never compete directly with the WNBA — saying their mission has been to provide these athletes with another source of income — Project B has made no such promise.

There could very well be a world where Project B starts having its players compete exclusively for them, and that would mean a major talent drain for the WNBA. Unrivaled already has NIL deals with the top young stars in college, but what’s stopping Project B from entering that space too? If Cathy Engelbert and the league don’t act quickly, we might genuinely see a future where Project B attracts better players, builds a stronger roster, and offers fans a better overall product than the W.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments down below!