French WNBA Player Is First Known Project B Dropout

Janelle Salaün is no longer with Project B.

A Project B spokesperson told Front Office Sports that the French forward will not be a part of the global basketball league’s inaugural season after she signed with Turkish club Galatasaray last month. Salaün currently plays for the Golden State Valkyries in the WNBA and is an early-season candidate for Sixth Woman of the Year. 

“We’re supportive of Janelle Salaun’s personal decision to compete in the EuroLeague this season. She is an exceptional talent with a bright future,” Project B told FOS in a statement.

Salaün was announced as a part of Project B in late November. FOS reported last year that Project B, which starts in January, was luring players with salaries worth more than $2 million. The league did not reveal the financial implications of Salaün’s decision, including whether she or Galatasaray needed to pay a buyout for her services.

Galatasaray and representatives for Salaün did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A week after Galatasaray announced its agreement with Salaün, Project B announced the signing of another French player: Leïla Lacan, who currently plays for the Connecticut Sun. Asked by FOS whether Lacan was a replacement for Salaün, a Project B spokesperson just said, “Leïla is one of the most exciting rising stars in the game right now. She is a fantastic addition as we continue to grow our roster for the 2027 season.”

Prior to Salaün’s departure, Project B had announced 13 other players—all of whom remain signed. Its most prominent names are former WNBA MVP and WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike, Alyssa Thomas, Kelsey Mitchell, and Jonquel Jones.

The announced roster also includes several international WNBA players including Alanna Smith (Australia), Kamilla Cardoso (Brazil), Leonie Fiebich (Germany), and Awa Fam (Spain). 

Project B’s inaugural season is planned for December 2026 to April 2027 and will make seven stops across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Two stops have already been announced: Valencia, Spain, and Tokyo, Japan.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has stressed that the next step to grow the league is by homing in on the international market.

“We know there’s so much low-hanging fruit for us and remarkable demand for our game globally, but we just haven’t been very global,” Engelbert said on The Pat McAfee Show last week. “I’ve admired what the NBA has done with their global game strategy, so you’ll see us do something like that over the next few years and invest in globalizing our game as well.” 

WNBA legend Swin Cash, who is also a WNBA investor, was complimentary of Project B in an interview with Front Office Sports last month.

“I think they’re ahead of the curve of understanding the international play because then you have the ability to play in these different countries at a very high level,” Cash said.