In a move that has sent shockwaves through the rapidly fracturing landscape of women’s professional basketball, Caitlin Clark has reportedly turned down an opportunity to join “Project B,” the new, flush-with-cash global league set to challenge the WNBA’s dominance. The revelation comes courtesy of her Indiana Fever teammate, Sophie Cunningham, who admitted on a recent podcast that her attempts to recruit the global superstar were met with a swift and decisive rejection.

For a league that has promised to disrupt the status quo with “tech-like returns” and salaries rumored to rival NBA bench players, Clark’s refusal is a catastrophic PR blow. It highlights a growing divide in women’s sports: the battle between quick, massive paydays and the long-term cultivation of a domestic legacy.

The Cunningham Confession

Sophie Cunningham, the gritty Fever guard known for her hustle and social media savvy, recently announced her commitment to Project B. The league, backed by tech entrepreneurs and reportedly funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), is scheduled to launch in late 2026. It promises a 5-on-5 format, international travel, and salaries starting at $2 million—a figure that makes the WNBA’s supermax (around $240,000) look like pocket change.

On her podcast, Show Me Something, Cunningham was candid about her motivations. “I’m going to make some money over there,” she joked, before revealing the question on everyone’s mind: Did she try to bring Caitlin Clark with her?

“I tried to get her to like play in this one,” Cunningham said. “She’s like, ‘No. No, not really.’”

The bluntness of the refusal is telling. While Cunningham and other stars like Nneka Ogwumike and Alyssa Thomas are seizing the financial lifeline Project B offers, Clark is standing firm.

Why Turn Down the Bag?

To the average fan, turning down a potential $5 million to $10 million payday seems insane. But Caitlin Clark is not the average athlete.

First, there is the “Clark Economy.” In 2025 alone, reports estimate Clark earned upwards of $16 million from endorsements with Nike, Gatorade, State Farm, and others. Her financial security is not tied to a basketball salary in the same way it is for her peers. For a player like Cunningham, a $2 million contract is life-changing wealth. For Clark, it’s a nice bonus, but perhaps not worth the risk of burnout or brand dilution.

Second, there is the issue of “The Platform.” As Cunningham herself noted in a moment of clarity, “If you don’t have the W[NBA], you don’t have the platform. So you don’t have the eyes, you don’t have the recognition.”

Clark is acutely aware that her brand was built on the collegiate stage and exploded in the WNBA. Jumping ship to a startup league playing in Europe and Asia—potentially on obscure streaming platforms or at odd hours for US viewers—could sever the connection with the fanbase that fuels her endorsement empire.

The “League Wars”: Project B vs. Unrivaled vs. WNBA

Clark’s rejection also throws a wrench into the escalating war between the new leagues.

Unrivaled: The 3-on-3 league founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier was supposed to be the premier offseason destination. It offers equity and high six-figure salaries. But with Project B offering millions and a full 5-on-5 game, many analysts—including the host of The Ben Daniel Podcast—believe Unrivaled is in trouble. “Unrivaled is cooked,” the host declared. “If Unrivaled is existing past 2027, I would be shocked.”

Project B: By offering massive salaries, Project B is trying to buy legitimacy. But a league without Caitlin Clark is like a movie without its lead star. Without her, can they secure the massive TV rights deal needed to sustain those salaries?

The WNBA: Ironically, Clark’s rejection of the big-money alternative gives the WNBA massive leverage. It reinforces the WNBA as the premier destination, the only place to watch the generational talent compete.

The Fallout

Sophie Cunningham’s recruitment failure suggests that Clark is prioritizing rest, recovery, and perhaps loyalty to the traditional structures of American basketball over a quick cash grab. It also signals to the “tech bros” and foreign investors behind Project B that money can buy a roster, but it cannot buy the face of the sport.

For now, Caitlin Clark remains the WNBA’s crown jewel, unbought and unbothered. But as Project B continues to poach All-Stars with checkbooks that have no limit, the pressure on the WNBA to fix its own economic model will only intensify. Clark may have said “No” today, but if the WNBA doesn’t catch up, the next “No” might be harder to say.