Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 pick in this year’s WNBA Draft and a rookie with the Dallas Wings, will play in Project B’s global women’s basketball league starting this December—under a plan that competes with expectations that she might take part in Unrivaled during t
Azzi Fudd’s offseason plan shifted fast—before anyone could say “maybe.” The Dallas Wings rookie. still navigating the early rhythm of her first year in the WNBA. announced Friday morning that she has secured a spot with Project B. the global women’s basketball league scheduled to begin play this December.
Fudd shared the news in a video on Instagram. At the center of the moment was a choice many assumed she’d make differently: while plenty of observers expected her to spend part of the WNBA offseason with Unrivaled. a person with direct knowledge of her plans confirmed that she will not play in the U.S. based 3×3 league.
Her path in the WNBA has already been steady. In her rookie season with the Dallas Wings. Fudd is averaging 12.7 points. 1.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 50.7% from the floor. She enters the league with major credentials from UConn. where she was an All-American in her senior season and was named Most Outstanding Player at the 2025 Final Four as a junior while helping the Huskies win a national championship.
Those expectations around Unrivaled weren’t pulled from thin air. At UConn, Fudd had an NIL deal with Unrivaled, and she was seen sitting courtside at games this past season. But Project B appears to be where she’s choosing to place her momentum next.
Project B is built on a different structure than the U.S. offseason model Fudd could have leaned into. The concept is to run two separate leagues—men’s and women’s—with six teams in each. each rostered by 11 players. The women’s and men’s teams will compete on a global circuit from November 2026 through April 2027.
Each city will host a 10-day event, with a city champion crowned at every stop. Those victories will count toward a season-long championship.
So far, Project B has announced it will play in Tokyo, Japan and Valencia, Spain.
Fudd framed the move as player choice rather than obligation. “What’s incredible now is that players have that option — they can go if they want, they don’t have to, they can stay if they want. It’s not forced,” she said of playing overseas during the offseason.
The league is also positioning itself around shared ownership. Like Unrivaled, every athlete playing in Project B will have equity in the league. Project B has not disclosed salaries. but a league spokesperson previously told USA TODAY Sports that they are “higher than anything you’ve ever seen in women’s sports.”.
Other WNBA names have already pledged to Project B. Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury. Awa Fam of the Seattle Storm. Allana Smith of the Dallas Wings. Jewell Loyd of the Las Vegas Aces. Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty. Kamilla Cardoso of the Chicago Sky. Nneka Ogwumike of the LA Sparks. and Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever have signed with the league.
Behind the scenes, the league is stacked with basketball experience and broader business connections. Alana Beard— a Hall of Famer. WNBA Champion and three-time ACC Player of the Year at Duke—serves as Chief Basketball Officer. Co-founder and COO Grady Burnett is a former Facebook and Google Global Sales Executive. CFO Aaron Fischer is MGM Resorts international’s former Chief Strategy Officer.
NBA agents Maverick Carter and Miško Ražnatović are also heavily involved in Project B. Among the investors are women’s basketball legends Cheryl Miller, Candace Parker and Lauren Jackson, and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young.
For broadcasting, Project B has secured Host Broadcast Services (HBS) as the official broadcaster for the league’s inaugural circuit. HBS has broadcast the FIFA World Cup since 2002, and the games will stream live on YouTube.
Azzi Fudd Project B Dallas Wings WNBA Draft Unrivaled women’s basketball league global sports equity HBS YouTube
So she’s joining another league instead of the other one? Sounds like everyone’s just chasing money now.
Wait Unrivaled is 3-on-3 right? I’m confused why that matters if she’s already good. Project B sounds fake tho, like a brand deal.
I saw she was at UConn and people were talking about Unrivaled like she “had to” do it. But if she already has a contract, why would she even consider leaving? Idk, maybe the Dallas Wings told her not to. Also “global league” sounds like more travel and that’s gonna mess up her stats.
This headline makes it sound like it’s some big drama, but at the end of the day she’s a rookie. 12.7 points is solid, but I don’t follow Project B at all. Is it in Europe or Canada or what? And if she won’t play in Unrivaled in the U.S. based 3×3 league… then is she missing reps or just doing the same thing somewhere else?