The New Women's Basketball Order Has Begun

Women’s basketball is officially entering a new era. In this episode of The 6th Woman Basketball Podcast, Beza and Tony break down the biggest global shift the sport has seen since the creation of the WNBA in 1997.

Project B has arrived with seven figure salaries, equity for players, a Formula One style global tournament model and some of the biggest names in the game rumoured to be involved. At the same time, the WNBA is deep in its CBA negotiations and players around the world are weighing up their futures.

We look at what is confirmed, what is speculation and what this all means for the WNBA, international leagues like the Australian WNBL and the future of women’s basketball globally.

Plus, we highlight the rise of Chinese superstar Han Xu playing in Australia, the latest WNBL storylines and a few cringe moments that show why the media still needs to catch up.

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What We Cover

• The global shake-up caused by Project B and how it rivals the WNBA
  
  
• Why players like Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese are the biggest unknowns
  
  
• How the WNBA CBA negotiations and possible lockouts could impact the 2026 WNBA season
  
  
• The rise of Unrivaled, Athletes Unlimited and the shrinking need for WNBA players to go overseas and play in offseason
  
  
• Why the Australian WNBL must pivot to a winter league window to stay relevant globally
  
  
• The Winners and losers of the new landscape in women’s basketball
  
  
• Local highlights in the Australian WNBL including the arrival of Han Xu and the Tasmanian Jewels brand launch

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
00:41 Global Reach of Women's Basketball
01:49 What is Project B?
03:24 Impact on WNBA CBA Negotiations
06:04 Historical Context: From 2019 to Present
08:26 Project B Details and Player Announcements
10:37 Notable Players and Potential Signings
13:43 WNBA CBA Negotiations
15:48 Impact on International Leagues
17:48 Future of the Australian WNBL
21:03 Strategic Move of Australian WNBL to a Winter Season
26:16 Why Lifestyle and Career are Major Considerations for Players
26:54 Winners and Losers Analysis
33:08 WNBL Highlights and Han Xu
35:06 Closing Thoughts

In this episode, hosts Beza and Tony unpack the future of women’s basketball as Project B emerges with unprecedented money, global ambition and player empowerment. With CBA negotiations in the WNBA reaching a critical moment, players may be forced to choose between stability, lifestyle and history.

We explore what Project B could mean for the WNBA, Australian WNBL, European leagues, China, and for fans worldwide. Big money, big names and big reshuffles are coming, and this episode explains it all in clear, engaging terms.

women’s basketball, Project B league, WNBA CBA, WNBL analysis, Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, Paige Bueckers, Sabrina Ionescu, Angel Reese, Unrivaled basketball, Athletes Unlimited, global women’s sports, Han Xu, WNBL highlights, women’s basketball podcast, basketball news 2025, player equity sports, international basketball leagues

 

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