Sophie Cunningham expected the offseason to be a reset after missing out on the 2025 WNBA Finals. She had already lined up her next challenge with Project B, a new global league set to begin in November 2026. Higher salaries, player equity, world travel, and a six-team format all made it appealing. She was excited to team up with Kelsey Mitchell and hoped to bring in one more name to make the project feel complete: Caitlin Clark.
According to Cunningham, she made the pitch personally. Clark’s answer, shared on Cunningham’s podcast Show me something on December 5, was short and clear: “No.” What Cunningham thought was a harmless detail quickly turned into the center of online debate.
Fans immediately flooded social media. Some praised Clark for staying committed to the WNBA, echoing past reporting from The Athletic and ESPN that highlighted her consistent refusal to join other offseason leagues like Unrivaled.
Others accused Cunningham of using Clark’s name to boost attention for her own ventures, pointing out the major jump in Cunningham’s following after the June 17 incident where she stepped in during a confrontation involving Clark. Endorsements arrived soon after, including one from Arby’s, which only intensified the narrative.
All these leagues are great, but at the end of the day, if you don’t have the WNBA, you don’t have the platform. You don’t have the eyes. You don’t have the recognition… I tried to get her (Caitlin Clark) to play in Project B. She was like, ‘No.’
The backlash grows louder
A portion of the criticism focused on the idea that Cunningham’s comment removed a key bargaining chip during ongoing CBA tensions. Rival leagues offer higher pay and new opportunities. The possibility of Clark joining any of them has often been viewed as leverage for players. Some fans argued that revealing her refusal helped ownership more than players. Even Skip Bayless has previously questioned Cunningham’s motives regarding her proximity to Clark, and those doubts resurfaced quickly.
Supporters of Clark also pointed to something that has been public knowledge. USA Basketball has been her priority. After missing out on Olympic selection last year due to NCAA commitments, she now enters the December 12 training camp wearing the No. 17 jersey. As USA Basketball has noted, this is a key step toward the 2028 Los Angeles Games. A globe-traveling offseason league was never likely to fit into that plan.
Project B still carries major buzz, and Cunningham still has a new platform, a new team, and a new league to look forward to. But once her story about Clark went public, the discussion shifted from excitement to controversy. When Caitlin Clark says no, fans everywhere have something to say.
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