Unrivaled and Project B Are in an Arms Race for WNBA Talent

June 23, 2026

Two new winter women’s basketball leagues are competing for the same WNBA talent, and their overlapping schedules mean most players likely can’t do both. One league is leaning on a Miami-centered, lower-travel model with established stars and multiyear commitments, while the other is pitching a higher-paying, global tour format with major international stops.

The tension is already showing in player decisions: some athletes who were linked to one league have shifted to the other, and several of the sport’s biggest names still have not committed anywhere. It also notes that improved WNBA salaries may reduce the need for offseason leagues, making these new ventures more about opportunity, equity, and lifestyle than survival.

Looking ahead, the fight for players may get tougher as the WNBA’s calendar stretches and the offseason shrinks further. That could leave the two winter leagues competing not just on money, but on convenience, exposure, and which model players believe helps their careers most. FOS