No Offseason: The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show
Episode: WNBA Legend Alana Beard Goes Inside Project B
Hosts: Zena Keita, Chantal Jennings, Sabrina Merchant
Guest: Alana Beard (WNBA Legend, Chief Basketball Officer of Project B)
Date: February 27, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode has a dual focus:
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WNBA CBA Negotiations: The hosts break down the deadline-driven drama surrounding the WNBA’s upcoming collective bargaining agreement (CBA), what’s at stake with the March 10 deadline, and the ripple effects for the offseason, player movement, and fan experience.
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Deep Dive with Alana Beard on Project B: WNBA Hall of Famer and Project B exec Alana Beard joins the show for an insightful, candid interview. Beard discusses her basketball journey, the vision and unique global approach of Project B, what sets the new league apart, and how player experience and empowerment drive the model.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. WNBA CBA Standoff: The Looming Deadline
Segment starts: [02:31]
The Situation
- The WNBA and WNBPA must agree on a new CBA by March 10, or risk upending the 2026 season (games begin May 8).
- Even with a handshake deal on March 10, there’ll be ~3 more weeks needed for formal ratification and legal finalities.
“Just because on March 10th we're like, okay, we have something, that doesn't mean that...anything is really in place until probably three weeks after that.”
— Sabrina Merchant [03:41]
Why March 10?
- The date is arbitrary—a negotiating tactic to drive urgency and public narrative, not necessarily an organically meaningful deadline.
“This made up March 10th date doesn't suggest to me that, like, oh, this is the one that has to happen...all of these dates keep passing without a lot of sense of, hey, 2026 season, maybe we want to have it.”
— Sabrina Merchant [05:32]
- The deadline mostly aligns with TV broadcasting needs for early-season coverage and less to the actual basketball logistics.
Public Narrative & Stakes
- March 10th frames the narrative for fans and the public—assigning blame for delays.
- Stakes for casual fans: Will the season start on time? Is the league or players holding things up?
The “3-Week Offseason” Chaos
- With all offseason activity condensed to a mere 3 weeks, expect a “mad dash”: expansion draft, free agency, college draft, training camp.
- Overlap with NCAA March Madness and the college transfer portal opens up simultaneous player news frenzy.
“We're going to have a three week off season...They're taking these things, these processes that usually take...two and a half months. And now they're saying...let's see if we can cut this down to seven days.”
— Chantal Jennings [12:30]
- Consequence: Shaky rosters heading into training camp, rushed signings, and likely “rough basketball” to open the season.
2. Alana Beard: Career, Philosophy, and the Birth of Project B
Interview Segment starts: [19:38]
Alana Beard’s Path
- Grew up in Louisiana, started organized basketball at 12, inspired by the NBA (coveted Reggie Miller jersey).
- Attended and starred at Duke, 15-year WNBA career, played in 27 countries.
- Early focus on preparing for life after basketball—started post-injury in 2010; explored investments, venture capital, franchising.
“I started playing the game at a very young age...didn't really start organized basketball until the age of 12...I started kicking everyone's asses that I knew that I had something special.”
— Alana Beard [20:29]
Overseas Insights → Project B Vision
- Beard’s global perspective: Witnessed how international fans and cultures love the game—a foundational influence for Project B.
- Joined Project B after being approached by co-founders Grady Burnett and Jeff Prentice (both with tech + athlete backgrounds).
“We’re building out this ecosystem where our focus is on the player and getting the players to understand that they are the IP to everything we’re building.”
— Alana Beard [25:49]
3. Inside Project B: Innovation, Globalization, and Player-First System
Detailed segment: [31:40]
League Structure & Launch
- Six men’s and six women’s teams; 11 players each; launching Q4 2026.
- Premier “tour” model: events in three Asian, three European, and one Latin American city—emphasizes city takeovers and global engagement.
What Sets Project B Apart
- Experience-Driven Model: Borrowing from F1—immersive multi-day events in each city to build a cultural and community moment around games.
“We believe that there’s a ton of potential for just creating another experience around...the game of basketball...there’s a level of luxury and access that we want to infuse in the model.”
— Alana Beard [34:16]
- Player Partnership: Athletes are hands-on in building league infrastructure, not just participants—offering equity, ownership, and voice.
“We want the players...to be partners at every single step.”
— Alana Beard [32:42]
- Media & Tech Forward: Streaming and digital-first, leveraging platforms Gen Z audiences use (YouTube, Netflix, Insta, etc.), aiming for 1 billion user engagement worldwide—not restricted to US TV models.
Addressing Challenges
- “Two-week city stints” mean heavy travel, but significant breaks provided for recovery and commercial opportunities.
- Five-star standards for travel, recovery, and personal autonomy—players need not relocate.
“That experience that we're going after is five star at every single level because if the players aren't happy, we don't have a business.”
— Alana Beard [38:13]
- Project B will exist alongside other new women's leagues (Unrivaled, Athletes Unlimited, etc.), providing more opportunities and global exposure.
Revenue, Equity, and Player Empowerment
- Innovative cap table backed by global, diversified investors (no Saudi investment despite rumors).
- Equity sharing and influence for players—setting compensation and ownership standards.
4. Memorable Quotes & Human Moments
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On Player Influence:
“There's no organization, there's no entity without you.”
— Alana Beard [25:49] -
On Skill Transfer Post-Playing:
“It gets lost at times how valuable the skills that you develop as an athlete are when you transition.”
— Alana Beard [44:43] -
On Kobe Bryant’s Impact & Regrets:
Shares a moving story about Kobe Bryant’s support and a missed moment of connection:
“He read my message 30 minutes before his helicopter went down...if Kobe was still here, rest his soul, women's basketball would have already been in a different space because of his attention to it.”
— Alana Beard [51:41]
Important Timestamps
- WNBA CBA drama begins: [02:31]
- Compressed “3-week Offseason” outlined: [12:01]
- Interview with Alana Beard starts: [19:38]
- Alana’s playing and overseas journey: [20:29]
- Project B’s inception & vision: [25:49]
- Tech founders/athletes background: [29:51]
- Project B launch details (cities, structure): [31:55]
- Player-first philosophy explained: [38:13]
- Player empowerment & brand building: [42:15]
- Addressing Saudi investment rumors: [43:35]
- Team-building lessons from basketball to business: [44:43]
- Emotional Kobe Bryant story: [51:41]
Tone & Personality Highlights
- The hosts’ rapport is quick, witty, and replete with friendly banter and basketball insider perspective.
- Alana Beard is candid, enthusiastic, and brings humor and humility (from AAU autograph stories to business acumen).
- The shows strikes a balance: expert analysis, personal stories, and bigger-picture visioning for women’s basketball.
Noteworthy Moments
- Chantel’s Admission: Alana Beard is the only basketball player she ever asked for an autograph ([23:36]).
- “3-Week Offseason” Nickname: Spontaneous branding idea for this wild, compressed WNBA offseason ([12:27]).
- F1 Inspiration: Project B as “F1 for basketball”—turning games into global cultural festivals ([34:16]).
- Kobe Bryant Reflection: Alana’s story on their final DM exchange prompts a reverent, emotional pause ([51:41]).
Closing Predictions: Unrivaled Playoffs
Post-interview, from [54:09]
- Hosts discuss their picks for the Unrivaled league postseason, with arguments for the Rose (Angel Reese), the Phantom, and the Breeze.
- Lighthearted discussion about “vibes” vs. stats in picking a winner.
Takeaways for Listeners
- The WNBA faces major logistical challenges and narrative battles as it barrels toward a new CBA, with huge impacts for players and the future of women’s pro basketball.
- Alana Beard exemplifies leadership by putting player experience, empowerment, and global opportunity at the center of Project B’s model.
- Project B is poised to disrupt the global basketball ecosystem—not just by expanding options for women, but by challenging how leagues are built, marketed, and shared with the world.
For anyone who cares about women’s basketball’s next leap, this episode is essential listening.