In a storyline that has ignited fresh debate across the basketball world, Sophie Cunningham has finally confirmed what many insiders had quietly suspected: she personally tried — and failed — to recruit Caitlin Clark to play overseas. The Phoenix Mercury guard admitted on her Show Me Something podcast that she attempted to lure the WNBA’s biggest star into Project B, the new multimillion-dollar international startup league preparing to launch in 2026. But Clark’s answer was immediate, direct, and unwavering. Despite an offer that has already swayed some of the sport’s most respected names, she simply told Cunningham: “No.”
For anyone who has followed Clark’s rise, that response shouldn’t come as a shock. The Iowa legend has repeatedly stated that her full focus remains on the Indiana Fever and the rapidly evolving WNBA landscape. And no amount of overseas money — even money bordering on unprecedented — appears capable of shifting her priorities. What is surprising, however, is how aggressively Project B is positioning itself, and how quickly some of the league’s elite players are signing on.
Project B, founded by former Facebook executive Grady Burnett and Skype co-founder Geoff Prentice, is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious expansions in the history of women’s basketball. With six teams, traditional 5-on-5 play, and a world-tour format stretching from Europe to Asia to Latin America, the league promises something the WNBA has never been able to consistently match: gigantic salaries. Reports indicate players will start at around $2 million annually — nearly ten times the WNBA maximum and nearly ten times the projected max salary in the upcoming Unrivaled league.
That kind of money has already drawn heavy hitters. WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike, Alyssa Thomas, Jonquel Jones, Jewell Loyd, Kamilla Cardoso, and Cunningham herself have all signed on. Cunningham even admitted she rejected Project B twice, only joining after receiving more detailed assurances about medical support, charter travel, training resources, and global branding opportunities. “What a great time to expand my brand globally,” she said. “I get to play year-round… I’m hitting my prime.”
But while Project B may be reshaping the offseason conversation, Caitlin Clark is operating on a completely different tier — financially and culturally. With an estimated $16.1 million in endorsement earnings this year alone, Clark has no real incentive to risk injury, travel fatigue, or offseason burnout. She does not need a startup league. She does not need the paycheck. And in many ways, she does not need anything beyond the visibility and leverage that the WNBA provides.
Cunningham herself acknowledged this critical reality: “All these leagues are great, but at the end of the day, if you don’t have the WNBA, you don’t have the platform.” Basketball Hall of Famer Sue Bird echoed the sentiment, reminding listeners on her A Touch More podcast that player sponsorship deals — especially shoe contracts — are often contingent on WNBA participation. And for stars like Clark, A’ja Wilson, and Angel Reese, whose brands extend far beyond the court, the American spotlight remains irreplaceable.
All of this is unfolding against the backdrop of a tense and unresolved WNBA collective bargaining process. The league and the players’ union recently extended negotiations for another 40 days, dragging uncertainty into an already complicated offseason. With expansion plans on hold and roster moves frozen in limbo, nobody knows what the WNBA will look like in 2026 — or what new financial realities players may be facing.
What is clear, however, is that Caitlin Clark isn’t budging. Not for $2 million. Not for global tournaments. Not for promises of luxury treatment or world-class travel. She’s staying exactly where she believes her career, her brand, and her long-term goals are best served: in the WNBA, with the Indiana Fever, on the biggest domestic stage the sport can offer.
And as new leagues emerge, big-money disruptors circle, and negotiations reshape the future of the sport, one fact remains undeniable: Caitlin Clark doesn’t need to chase anything. The world — and the money — is already chasing her.
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