It’s been a year since the players’ union pulled out of the CBA. Yet, there’s still no new deal in sight. Both parties are working to find common ground and have even agreed to a 30-day extension. But while the league and union remain at the negotiating table, players are slowly losing their patience, and so are the fans. Now, Alyssa Thomas has taken up a new role, and that’s left the fans divided.

It all started when the perennial MVP candidate, who recently led the Phoenix Mercury to the 2025 WNBA Finals, broke the news on X, “looking forward to join Project B.” Notably, Project B is a Saudi-backed startup league with an impressive lineup of investors, including Candace Parker, Alana Beard, Novak Djokovic, and Steve Young. The league offers higher salaries and equity stakes for players. 

It will make a debut with six teams of 11 players each, competing in a seven-tournament circuit across Asia, Europe, and Latin America. And now, AT is the second player signed by the league, operating from November to April in 2026.  As former WNBA Star Alana Beard, CEO, who played a key role in Alyssa Thomas’ signing, said, “Alyssa is the kind of player and person you build around,….Her leadership, competitiveness, and professionalism elevate everyone around her. As one of the most respected players in the world, she represents the new era of player partnership and global competition that Project B stands for.”

Well, averaging 15.4 points with 8.8 rebounds and 9.2 assists, Thomas is known for her sheer physical dominance. Something that became a spotlight during the 2025 postseason. Especially during semis, as she guarded Collier and managed to keep her on the edge. This has earned her the moniker, the Engine.

She rebounds, she facilitates, and she scores-she does it all. So yes, you can build around that. And that’s exactly why Project B is welcoming her with open arms. But while Thomas is excited to join, her fans seem torn.

Has Alyssa Thomas’ decision upset the fans?

Once the Engine’s announcement went live, fans flooded the comments section with mixed emotions. One wrote, “Dominoes are dominoe-ing… we see you.” Indeed, fans are paying close attention-especially since Thomas isn’t the first to commit. She’s following Nneka Ogwumike, who became the league’s first official signee. But while Nneka’s decision didn’t surprise many, Thomas’ did-and for good reason.

“Unrivaled???? Omg hunny, it’s not looking good,” another Netizen wrote. Well, it’s a valid concern. Thomas played in Unrivaled’s inaugural season and was even listed as a participant for the upcoming one. But with Project B’s schedule overlapping as the league operates from November to April 2026, her participation there is no longer possible.

“This is all happening so fast. IDK,” one user added. Well, yes, the women’s basketball landscape is changing rapidly. At first, it was WBL and ABL. But then, for three decades, the  WNBA dominated the summer while EuroLeague ruled the rest of the year. But in the last few years, things have shifted. Athletes Unlimited debuted in 2022, and Unrivaled followed soon after. And now, Project B joins the mix-alongside Upshot, a new initiative by former WNBA President Donna Orender and Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller. So yes, the growth is real-and it’s fast.

“Is this a bad sign for the WNBA?” another fan asked. Honestly, to some extent, it is. The WNBA is in a “transformational” stage, negotiating a new deal with the CBA, and players signing to other leagues during this period is not ideal. As ESPN’s Brian Windhorst explained on Front Office Sports, “You also have something that the NBA doesn’t have, which is potential rival leagues.” He was pointing at ‘Unrivaled.’ He also addressed the possibility of other international leagues that could rival the WNBA. 

Windhorst also claimed that since the women are being allowed to play in multiple leagues, it is proof that the WNBA is underpaying its talent.

So yes, with more leagues emerging, players are finding better-paying options-and they’re taking them. As one fan summed it up perfectly: “Get paid $$$ Earned. Deserved. Delayed. And it’s time!” Everything, in the end, comes down to money. And that had been the ask of the union since it withdrew from the CBA last October. They demanded higher salaries and a better revenue-sharing model. But while a year later, W’s stuck at the revenue sharing model, leagues like Project B are stepping up to offer what players have long asked for-better pay and better treatment.

According to Bloomberg, Project B initially sought to raise $5 billion from investors like Mangrove Capital, Quiet Capital, and Sequence Equity. Not just that, the league’s also expected to offer multimillion-dollar salaries-far above what players currently earn in the WNBA. So, yes, the message is clear. The players are thinking ahead. What are your thoughts on the Engine’s new role at Plan B?