Caitlin Clark, the indisputable face of the WNBA and the league’s most powerful ambassador, has once again ignited a firestorm across the basketball world. Her meteoric rise—from a record-shattering college career to becoming the No. 1 pick for the Indiana Fever—has not only transformed a struggling franchise but also redefined the visibility and commercial value of women’s basketball in the United States. In just her second year, Clark has driven a surge in attendance, TV ratings, and national interest that the WNBA has never seen at this scale, pulling millions of new eyes toward a league suddenly thriving under her spotlight.
But just as the WNBA reaches a new peak, an unexpected twist threatens to reshape the landscape: the emergence of Project B, a global women’s basketball league scheduled to launch in fall 2026. Marketed as a new frontier for elite talent and backed by an international schedule that breaks away from the traditional offseason model, Project B has already begun attracting players eager for fresh opportunities. Among the early commitments is Sophie Cunningham—Clark’s own Indiana Fever teammate—who shocked fans by announcing she will join the new league ahead of the 2026 season.
And that’s where the story takes a sharp, dramatic turn.
On a recent episode of her Show Me Something podcast, Cunningham revealed she tried to recruit Caitlin Clark for Project B—only to be immediately and firmly rejected. “I tried to tell her to, like, play in this one, and she was like, ‘no,’” Cunningham said, making it unmistakably clear: Clark has zero interest in joining the new league.
The refusal landed like a thunderclap. Why would the WNBA’s biggest star refuse a global platform at a moment when women’s basketball is expanding faster than ever? The answer, for now, remains wrapped in uncertainty—but several clues point to one possibility: recovery.
Clark’s 2025 season was brutally cut short by a groin injury that sidelined her after just 13 games. The injury not only halted her sophomore breakout but also forced her to turn down participation in Unrivaled, a much-anticipated 3-on-3 offseason league drawing major names. Sources close to the team suggest Clark has committed fully to a long-term recovery plan, prioritizing stability over experimentation. Joining Project B—an untested, high-intensity global league—may simply pose too many risks as she prepares for a full-strength WNBA return.
Still, this doesn’t mean Clark is retreating from competition entirely. In a move that ignited fresh excitement, she has been confirmed for Team USA’s upcoming national team training camp—a clear signal that while she may be selective, she is far from stepping back.
With Clark cementing her loyalty to the WNBA at a moment of transition, questions now swirl around the future balance of power in women’s basketball. Will her decision influence other stars to stay stateside? Will Project B become a true rival league—or fade without the sport’s biggest global draw?
One thing is certain: Caitlin Clark’s choices continue to shape the direction of the sport, and this latest chapter may be just the beginning of a much bigger shift.
Stay tuned—because this story is far from over.
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