Azzi Fudd signs on to international basketball league Project B

Key Points:

• Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 draft pick of 2026 and star of the Dallas Wings, has joined Project B, an international men’s and women’s basketball league backed by tech and sports executives including a former Facebook exec and Skype cofounder.
• Project B aims to launch in January with a Formula 1-style “grand prix” format across six global cities, using underutilized arenas to bring international basketball stars to fans worldwide while offering players equity in the league.
• Fudd values the international experience as a chance to broaden her career and build a global fanbase, leveraging her strong social media presence and sponsorships to expand beyond the U.S. market, especially in China.
• The league seeks to capitalize on basketball’s growing global popularity, inspired by soccer’s billion-dollar multi-league model, while navigating scrutiny over alleged Saudi funding, which Project B denies having received.
• The WNBA and NBA are also expanding their international reach, with rising salaries attracting more overseas talent and international players achieving top honors, signaling a broader globalization of professional basketball.