"Mariona is exactly the type of player and person we want to build Project B with," said Alana Beard, co-founder and basketball director of a new international project that will begin in January 2027 and was created so WNBA players and the best players in Europe can continue competing, theoretically at the highest level, without overlapping with the American league, although its schedule will clash head-on with the European system.
"She leads by example, has exceptional basketball intelligence and a unique ability to make the players around her better. But what makes Mariona especially special is who she is beyond the court. She has an entrepreneurial mindset and a genuine desire to use her platform to create a positive impact in her community. That combination of leadership, ambition and purpose represents exactly what we want Project B to be," the American said.
MARIONA'S WORDS
In the competition's statement, Mariona also spoke about the new challenge she is taking on in her career: "Joining Project B is a very exciting step for me. Zaragoza holds a very special place in my heart and has given me some of the most important moments of my career. I am immensely proud of everything we have built together. Now I have the opportunity to take on a new challenge, compete alongside some of the best players in the world and represent Spanish basketball on a global stage."
As a result, the current captain of the Zaragoza side will join an international group of players from countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas who will compete in this groundbreaking tournament. In addition, as a Project B player, she will also become a partner in the project, with an equity stake and a voice in the platform's construction and development alongside her teammates.
