While Indiana Fever veterans Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham have both renewed their loyalty to the team for a year, that does not stop them from making lucrative moves in a new international league.

Ahead of the Fever's preseason game against the New York Liberty on April 25, the duo reaffirmed their commitment to upstart women's basketball league Project B.

“When they’re offering that type of money, plus the signing bonus, plus having equity in the company, it’s a no-brainer,” Cunningham told Front Office Sports. “I have financially smart people around me, and they’re like, ‘you got to do it. Your body’s got to suck it up.’”

Project B is especially profitable for Cunningham, who was unable to sign a seven-figure contract with the Fever due to her recent injury history as well as the team's salary caps. She will still see herself earn $665,000 next year, a 600% increase from her previous year's earnings.

Cunningham also stated that she had the opportunity to sign million-dollar contracts during free agency, but she "wanted to be" with the Fever in the upcoming season, per the Indianapolis Star.

With the new international league reportedly offering players salaries starting at $2 million, along with equity in the brand, the choice seems easy.

For a generation of players, earning more than what the WNBA offered meant one thing: playing overseas. The debut of Project B positions itself as a long-term solution that allows players to get in and get out.

That’s exactly how Kelsey Mitchell views Project B as well.

“There’s a big difference, and I think people recognize what that difference is,” Mitchell said. “Project B gives you a chance to do both, go in and come out, whereas [with] overseas basketball you’ve gotta be over there, eight months or seven months, just to get everything you want.”

Entering her ninth WNBA season, Mitchell has had a change of heart about playing overseas.

Kelsey Mitchell on choosing stateside basketball over overseas stints

The 30-year-old has played for professional teams in Egypt, Israel, Spain, and China during the WNBA offseason in her previous years, but now believes that would not be necessary.

While Project B is a key factor in that decision, Mitchell also signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Fever after the latest CBA was ratified last month.

On Wednesday, she told reporters at the Fever’s media day, saying it would take a “drastic, unique situation” for her to play overseas during the WNBA offseason.

"Where I'm at in my career now, I'd rather play it ​smart. Make sure my body is what it needs to be. And ​then also, respecting my craft. I feel like sometimes when you go overseas, you lose sight on some of the perfecting of the skills that you miss out on ​just because you're going to try to make a couple dollars."

"I got ​a soul, so I'd rather make sure that I'm right before I want to ‌keep ⁠going overseas and missing out on a lot," she added.

It is also worth noting that Mitchell preferred to stay in the US last offseason and participate in the 3-on-3 Unrivaled league. "That was good basketball, and ​it's in ⁠the United States, so I can't really complain."

Mitchell, alongside Cunningham, is one of the 12 players announced for Project B. Other major names include the likes of Jonquel Jones, Jewell Loyd, Nneka Ogwumike, Alanna Smith, and Alyssa Thomas, among others.

So, what is your opinion on Project B acting as a middle ground for players who do not wish to go overseas every offseason? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Surjo Roy