Project Bis going to China in 2027, the women's basketball league announced on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, will the first stop on the Project B's inaugural circuit. The league plans to play at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports AT Center Gymnasium from Jan. 19–24. The league announced the news with help from co-founder and chief strategy officer Russell Westbrook, co-founder and chief basketball officer Alana Beard and Chinese basketball player Li Meng.
“China has always had incredible energy around basketball, and I’ve experienced that personally throughout my career,” Westbrook said via release. “Project B is connecting basketball with culture in each place we play. I have deep respect for the history and tradition
here, and also the constant drive to create what comes next. This combination is powerful.”
Training camp and Project B's first draft will be in Seoul from Jan. 6-12 ahead of players arriving in Hangzhou. The league's first season will then begin the following week. Additional details about the Hangzhou stop are expected to be announced at a later date.
“From a basketball perspective, we wanted our first stop to set the standard,” Beard said. “We’re bringing the best players in the world together to compete at the highest level, and we’re also creating an environment where they can experience new cultures and build real connections with fans. Starting in Hangzhou gives us an incredible stage for both.”
Project B's women's basketball league has more than 20 WNBA players who have signed on, including Azzi Fudd and Alanna Smith of the Dallas Wings, Alyssa Thomas of the Mercury, Awa Fam of the Seattle Storm, Jewell Loyd of the Las Vegas Aces, Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty, Kamilla Cardoso of the Chicago Sky, Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham of the Fever and Nneka Ogwumike, who retired from the WNBA at the end of the season.
The concept for Project B is to have two separate leagues ― men and women ― with six teams, each with 11 players. Those teams will compete in a global circuit slated to kick off in Jan. 2027 and run through April 2027. Each city will host a 10-day event, crowning a city champion, and those victories will count towards a season-long championship. Project B has revealed that, outside of Hangzhou, it will also play in Tokyo, Japan and Valencia, Spain.
Athletes who play in Project B are expected to have equity in the league. Project B hasn’t disclosed any salaries yet, but a league spokesperson previously told USA TODAY Sports they are “higher than anything you’ve ever seen in women’s sports."
The global basketball league has multiple investors, including women’s basketball legends Cheryl Miller, Candace Parker and Lauren Jackson and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young. Additionally, Project B has secured Host Broadcast Services (HBS) to be the official broadcaster for the league’s inaugural circuit. HBS has broadcast the FIFA World Cup since 2002. The games will stream live on YouTube.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Project B picks China as first stop for new women's basketball tour
