AZZI FUDD JOINS PROJECT B FOR OFFSEASON PLAY IN SPAIN AND JAPAN

Azzi Fudd, selected as the first overall pick in the WNBA draft in April, announced on social media that she will play in Project B during the offseason. The offseason league will hold matches in Valencia, Spain from 12–21 March and Tokyo, Japan from 26 March to 4 April. Fudd announced her decision through a video posted to Instagram in which she walked through the cities where Project B will operate, accompanied by her dog, Stewie. Project B responded to her announcement with enthusiasm for the WNBA rookie's participation.

Fudd told Fortune that she sought the opportunity to expand her experience beyond the United States. She stated that the changed landscape of women's basketball now allows players to choose whether to play overseas during the offseason, rather than being compelled to do so. For years, WNBA players had limited flexibility regarding offseason destinations and many travelled abroad to supplement their income. This dynamic shifted following the launch of Unrivaled, a 3×3 league founded by WNBA players Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, which offered players the option to remain in the United States with significant compensation and equity stakes. The 2026 WNBA collective bargaining agreement also substantially increased player salaries and reduced financial pressure to play internationally.

Fudd cited her father, Tim Fudd, as an additional source of inspiration for her decision. Tim Fudd played professional basketball overseas, and Azzi Fudd grew up hearing accounts of his experiences playing basketball outside America. She expressed that players now possess genuine choice in determining how and where they spend their offseason time.