Jonquel Jones Heads to Project B in Next WNBA Offseason
Liberty center Jonquel Jones seems to have set her sights on a new challenge for the upcoming WNBA offseason. On Monday night, she took to Instagram to announce her signing with Project B.
In her post, Jones shared her enthusiasm: “I get to continue playing with the best players in the world, and see new parts of the world.” It sounds exciting, right? She added a simple yet motivational, “Let’s get it.”
Jones now joins two other notable WNBA players—Alyssa Thomas from the Mercury and Nneka Ogwumike from the Storm—who have also declared their intent to compete in the emerging World Basketball League, set to kick off in November 2026 across Europe and Asia.
Project B plans to feature a roster of 66 players grouped into six teams. Interestingly, it promises salaries that exceed current WNBA pay scales. This could be a game-changer for many athletes seeking better compensation.
The league’s duration will stretch from November to April, directly competing with Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 league spearheaded by Brianna Stewart and Nafeesa Collier. Details regarding Project B’s financial backing remain scant, which raises some eyebrows.
There have been concerns, especially surrounding Saudi Arabia’s potential involvement in the league. Back in February, the Financial Times indicated that the project might be partly financed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. However, Project B co-founder Grady Barnett pushed back on that notion, asserting that “we’re building a world-class basketball league, so we want to have a globally diverse cap table around us,” and explicitly stating that they do not include Saudi investment.
Interestingly, it’s been pointed out that Sela, a subsidiary of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, is tied to the league as an event partner. It’s a bit contradictory, isn’t it?
On a personal note, Jones is currently recovering from an ankle surgery she underwent in October. She’ll also be playing for Fernerbahce in Turkey during the offseason. It seems she has a busy season ahead!
