The WNBA is currently in dire straits. With the CBA talks going nowhere, the risk of a probable lockout is looming large. At the start of the season, the CBA deadline was October 31. However, as the deadline drew closer, it became evident that it would certainly be missed.
At the moment, the WNBPA has granted a 30-day extension of the deadline. But as of now, things are not looking very promising for the league. In a recent report, WNBA analyst Monica McNutt issued a warning to the league.
And now, much on similar lines, Rachel DeMita has exposed a concerning trend.
Rachel DeMita Thinks That The Time Is Ticking For The WNBA
As calls for revenue sharing and fair pay intensify, the WNBA is facing increasing competition. Already, the 3-on-3 league, Unrivaled, had taken the female hooping realm by storm. Paying the athletes significantly well, the league has immediately garnered a lot of eyeballs.
Now, with the Saudi-backed Project B scheduled to launch in November 2026, DeMita thinks that it can potentially disrupt the WNBA’s functioning.
“I’ll just tell you guys this straight up. If it is truly backed by Saudi money, no other league is going to be able to compete, even the WNBA.
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No other league is going to be able to compete with the amount of money that they will pay players,” said DeMita.
Almost all of the players involved in WNBA CBA negotiations are now involved with competing leagues.
— Courtside Club (@CourtsideClub_) November 6, 2025
“If it is truly backed by Saudi money (Project B) no other league is going to be able to compete, even the WNBA.” pic.twitter.com/64ZRmlULwG
DeMita also pointed out that many players protesting for the CBA deal play in other leagues. For example, Kelsey Plum, Elizabeth Williams, Brianna Turner, and Alicia Clark have equities either with Unrivaled or the Athletes Unlimited. Thus, according to DeMita, the tendency towards the shift is quite evident. And to make matters worse, WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike, too, signed up for Project B.
Nneka Ogwumike Makes Shocking Project B Decision
According to initial reports, players registered with Project B will receive a salary of $2 million. They would also hold equity in the league. However, while Ogwumike became the first player to sign with the league, the amount of her contract remains undisclosed.
Speaking on her decision to join Project B, Ogwumike said, “It’s not something that’s usually offered to us, and by us, I mean women athletes. So, for there to be an entry level of equity across the board was eye-catching. It’s something that I stand for, obviously.”
Nneka Ogwumike has signed a contract with Project B, the latest pro women's basketball league that is expected to begin in Europe and Asia next winter. Ogwumike will get an undisclosed salary and equity stake in the league. https://t.co/gxdniC7MQR
— ESPN Women's Hoops (@ESPN_WomenHoop) November 5, 2025
And to further add to the tension, DeMita added that this could be the case for Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu, and more too. She speculated that all these big names could have purposefully skipped this year’s Unrivaled in order to play for Project B next year.
All in all, the sky of the WNBA is looking extremely cloudy. Now, everyone waits to see what happens next.