Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: GOOD FOLLOW – Project B Signs Big Names, And The Impact On CBA Negotiations, Unrivaled Season Predictions & More!
Date: November 11, 2025
Main Hosts: Raz Gold Onwude & Angel McCoughtry
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

Episode Overview

This episode of "Good Follow" (within The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz) dives deep into the transformative moment in women's basketball brought on by the announcement of Project B, a new overseas league promising unprecedented salaries and equity for its players. Hosts Raz Gold Onwude and Angel McCoughtry examine how Project B may impact the WNBA, ongoing CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) negotiations, and the broader ecosystem of women's professional basketball. The episode also features a lively segment on Unrivaled league roster reveals, early season predictions, best fit and content teams, and the importance of Black women coaches in the sport.

1. Project B: The New League Changing the Game

[02:09 – 07:44]

Key Points

• Introduction to Project B

  • Project B is a new women's basketball league launching Nov 2026–Apr 2027, not overlapping with the WNBA season.
    • "Six month league and play season and they're going to play across Asia, Europe and Africa." (Raz, 02:09)
  • First public signing: Nneka Ogwumike, current WNBA Players’ Association president— a major statement.
    • "Their first signing, public announcement reveal... NECA Aumike. Who is literally the president of the Players Association. So it's quite a statement..." (Raz, 03:20)

• Big Money, Big Deals

  • Salaries start at $2 million annually, with potential for superstar contracts in multi-year double-digit millions—plus equity in the league.
    • "Front office sports reported salaries starting at $2 million annually...multi year deals that are gon the double digit millies..." (Raz, 02:44–02:58)
    • Angel’s reaction: "Oh my God." (03:57)

• Player Perspective: Would They Go?

  • Raz asks Angel if prime-age stars would make the jump, given the money and perks.
    • "I would. I mean, I was making during that time probably what the max was. 90,000." (Angel, 04:39)
    • "I see a lot of girls…If you're going to get paid 5 million, why put your body through playing in the WNBA?" (Angel, 05:14)

Notable Quotes

• "Common sense. It feels like it is common sense...Who’s going to turn that down?"
  —Angel McCoughtry [04:55]
• "Project B, aka Project Baby. Let's get it."
  —Angel McCoughtry [05:07]

2. The Overseas vs. U.S. Experience

[05:24 – 07:44]

Key Points

• Myth-Busting “Stay in the U.S.” Narrative

  • Angel pushes back on the idea that all players want to avoid overseas leagues for domestic stability, praising past international experiences.
    • "This whole stay in the US Thing is a myth...I've had some of my best experiences overseas. Istanbul, Turkey..." (Angel, 05:52)
    • "To play basketball, travel, and get paid. That is the life." (Angel, 06:22)

• Potential Shift Away from WNBA

  • Even though Project B doesn’t directly overlap, high salaries could make the WNBA less attractive.
    • "If you’re making 5 Millie to play Project B, you might just say...I’m cool off the WNBA." (Raz, 06:48)
    • "I mean, to make millions and then go enjoy my summer on a yacht in Ibiza. I mean, hey..." (Angel, 07:17)

3. Project B, CBA Negotiations & The Future of the WNBA

[09:37 – 18:33]

Key Points

• Union Leadership Now Owns Stakes in New Leagues

  • Not just Ogwumike: all the WNBA Player Association leadership now have equity in Project B, Unrivaled, or Athletes Unlimited.
    • "The President, the VPs...all of them got equity in different leagues." (Raz, 13:13)
  • Intentional leverage as CBA negotiations begin, similar to last year's Unrivaled launch by union leaders Collier and Stewart.

• Positive Player Power but Raises Questions

  • "The girls…want their bargaining power...they felt that their voices…haven’t been valued or heard on the WNBA side." (Angel, 14:27)
  • Potential conflict of interest: leaders now have stakes in possible rival leagues.
    • "It feels like maybe there might be some conflicts of interest. Right. And certainly for, yeah, conflicts of interest not just for her, but for anybody who’s over there with ownership..." (Raz, 15:13)

• Risks to WNBA’s Momentum

  • Splintering the talent pool, confusing fans, diluting star power and momentum—a real concern.
    • "You might mess up the overall momentum and growth of the game..." (Raz, 11:32)
  • Is it okay if the WNBA isn't the premier league?
    • "It doesn't have to be, but I think it should..." (Angel, 12:18)
    • "It's like a relationship. If your relationship is stagnant and not growing, where is it going to go?" (Angel, 12:22)

Notable Quotes

• "It's time for the change and it's time for the WNBA to say, hey, you know what? We do care about these women. Their brands do represent million dollar contracts and now we see that they're stepping out, making leagues of their own."
  —Angel McCoughtry [12:36]
• "Let's start the Dubai league next. Dubai got the money—it's that easy now Ross, let’s start a league in Dubai."
  —Angel McCoughtry [12:54]

4. Who Benefits? Stars, Middle Class, and the Saudi Connection

[16:20 – 18:33]

Key Points

• Disparity Between Stars and Middle-Class Athletes

  • Most of the huge offers are “for the stars”; concern about mid-tier WNBA players being left behind.
    • "My question is what happens to the middle class of the WNBA and how are they protected...?" (Raz, 16:20)
    • "If all the stars go play in Project B, you need stars in W. You need names. This does give an opportunity for a middle tier girl to rise up in the WBA..." (Angel, 16:56)

• Saudi Money: Sportswashing?

  • Project B’s financial backing includes a Saudi event partner—not full labeling as a “Saudi league”, but the association is raising questions about motives and human rights.

    • "There’s been some distancing from Project B leaders and the labeling of this as a Saudi league. Instead, they prefer to say they have a Saudi event partner..." (Raz, 17:28)

  • "One thing we…know we're in favor of, I guess, the girls getting the bag. Give them the bag." (Raz, 18:33)

5. Unrivaled League: Predictions and Fun

[18:33 – 27:28]

Key Points

• Way-Too-Early Predictions for Unrivaled

  • Raz picks Team Breeze for their young, versatile talent—but ultimately goes with Team Laces for defense (Jackie Young, Brittany Sykes, Alyssa Thomas).

    • "I'm going laces." (Raz, 20:53)

  • Angel chooses Breeze: "Them young legs because when you playing three on three, you can't hide, baby." (Angel, 20:54)

• One-on-One Tournament Favorites

  • Raz: Players like Satou Sabally, Dearica Hamby, Aaliyah Edwards (shoutout for her versatile “bag”).
  • Angel: "Us big guards are the tweeners...They always win the one on one...players like that are Rekia Jackson, Ray Burrell, Ryan Howard, even Dr. Kahambi." (Angel, 23:09)

• Best Tunnel Fit Team

  • Both pick Team Vinyl (Ryan Howard, Courtney Williams, Dearica Hamby, Ray Burrell) for Miami-style flair and fit diversity.
    • "I think this is the first time we've actually agreed on the show. I have Team Vinyl also..." (Angel, 24:46)

• Best Content Team

  • Angel: The Rose ("Chelsea Gray is the one that leads...Lexi hall is good on camera.") (Angel, 25:32)
  • Raz: The Breeze ("TikTok queens...get a lot of dance content...") (Raz, 25:44)

• Coach Shout-Outs

  • Angel: Renika Hodges (“player’s coach”), Rena Wakama (Nigeria national team).
  • Raz: Teresa Weatherspoon ("Her impact, her energy was felt all over unrivaled last season…” 26:19), and special love for the prominent presence of Black women coaches in Unrivaled.

Notable Quotes

• "When you playing three on three, you can't hide, baby. You can hide five on five, you can get a break five on five. But them legs got to keep rolling."
  —Angel McCoughtry [20:54]
• "If my abs were ready for prime time, you would see them...I'd be obnoxious about it."
  —Raz Gold Onwude [25:03]

6. The Importance of Black Women Coaches

[26:06 – 27:24]

Key Points

• Huge representation of Black women coaches in Unrivaled, contrasted with none currently in the WNBA.
  • Raz highlights: "Black women coaches are so prevalent and unrivaled...Think about the WNBA. There have been none. There's none right now.” (Raz, 27:02)
• Angel and Raz both cite respect and fun as key elements of these coaching relationships.

Memorable Moments & Closing

[27:28 – 27:34]

• Light, friendly wrap-up with Angel and Raz.
  • "As always, fun to hang with you." (Raz, 27:28)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Project B Explained & Perspective on Overseas Play: [02:09 – 07:44]
• Implications for WNBA, CBA, Talent Pool: [09:37 – 18:33]
• Unrivaled Predictions, Fit & Content Talk: [18:33 – 27:24]
• Coaches & Representation: [26:06 – 27:24]

Final Thoughts

This episode underscores a seismic shift in women’s basketball, with Project B’s big-money, player-centered model applying massive pressure on traditional structures like the WNBA and its CBA. The prospect of true leverage, ownership, and global options—tempered by risk—has the players “getting the bag,” but also signals a period of disruptive realignment for the sport’s stars, rising talent, and its institutions.