Azzi Fudd Joins Project B, Choosing Global Basketball League Over Domestic Rival Unrivaled

Azzi Fudd, a rookie for the Dallas Wings and former national champion at UConn, has become the most notable WNBA player to sign with Project B, a new international basketball league planning its debut across multiple continents from December through April 2027. The signing represents a significant acquisition for the league, which is competing against established domestic alternatives for top-tier talent.

The Project B Vision

Project B is being built by a former Facebook executive and the cofounder of Skype, with advisory support from Maverick Carter, the business partner of LeBron James. The league has completed its capital raise, though the exact funding amount has not been disclosed. Early reports suggested the venture was seeking as much as $5 billion to establish basketball as the world's leading global sport, ahead of soccer.

The league's operational model relies on a Formula 1-inspired approach, with tournaments hosted across six cities including Tokyo and Valencia, Spain. Rather than owning its own venues, Project B will work with underutilized arenas to stage its events, creating what founders describe as an asset-light business structure. The inaugural season will feature six teams with 11 players each, competing in seven two-week tournaments spread across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Fudd's Decision and Global Ambitions

Fudd's choice to join Project B signals a shift in how rising WNBA stars approach offseason opportunities. She was previously aligned with Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 domestic league founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, which advertises itself as the highest-paying women's professional league in the United States. However, the opportunity to compete internationally proved more compelling to the 23-year-old athlete.

In a statement, Fudd emphasized that global competition aligns with her personal vision. "Basketball has always been global to me," she said. "It's given me the opportunity to see the world, connect with people from different cultures and go places I never imagined." Her father, Tim Fudd, played basketball abroad and shared stories that influenced her outlook. Last summer, while traveling with Steph Curry to Chongqing, China, Fudd experienced firsthand the international appeal of professional basketball, with fans approaching her for autographs and merchandise despite being thousands of miles from home.

A Broader Shift in Player Strategy

Fudd joins an impressive roster that includes WNBA veterans Nneka Ogwumike, Alyssa Thomas, Jewell Loyd, Jonquel Jones, and Kelsey Mitchell, along with fellow rookie Awa Fam and several other established players. Alana Beard, Project B's chief basketball officer, stated that Fudd's signing was "one of the most phenomenal experiences of this process," highlighting the league's need to balance superstars with role players and emerging talent.

For years, WNBA players pursued overseas opportunities primarily to supplement lower domestic salaries. The calculation has shifted as new leagues offer both competitive platforms and equity stakes in their businesses. Host Broadcast Services, which produces coverage of the FIBA World Cup, will serve as Project B's production partner and will stream all games, giving players significant exposure on a global stage.