Park Ji-hyun Joins New International Basketball League 'Project B'... First Camp in Seoul

South Korean national women's basketball team guard Park Ji-hyun is joining "Project B," a new international professional league launching in 2027.

Announcing Park's addition to its roster, Project B stated that the league's inaugural training camp will be held from January 6 to 12 next year at Park Hyatt Seoul in Gangnam, Seoul.

This marks the first gathering bringing together players, coaches, and league officials from all over the world who are part of Project B.

Headquartered in Singapore, Project B is a league spearheaded by Grady Burnett, a former executive at Google and Facebook, and Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn.

Recently, retired NBA star Russell Westbrook joined Project B as a founding member, and tennis legend Novak Djokovic is also supporting the venture as an investor and advisor.

Project B will operate in a format where six teams, each with an 11-player roster, will travel across Asia, Europe, and the Americas to compete in seven two-week tournaments.

The inaugural season is scheduled to open in January 2027.

Park said, "It feels even more special that Project B is holding its training camp in Seoul. South Korea is my home, and I am truly proud that colleagues from around the world will be able to experience the energy, culture, and passion for basketball here. I can't wait for the moment we begin this journey together in Seoul."

Selected as the number one overall pick in the 2018 WKBL rookie draft by Asan Woori Bank, Park is regarded as one of the top guards in the country.

In 2024, she left South Korea to challenge herself on overseas stages, playing across Australia, New Zealand, Spain, and the United States.

This season, she has been playing for the Los Angeles Sparks in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

She became the third South Korean player in history to appear in a WNBA regular-season game.

Park is currently called up to the national team and is competing in the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup held in Berlin, Germany.

She said, "Playing for the national team is one of the greatest honors of my career. The World Cup is a stage where the world's best players and basketball cultures come together. I am proud and excited to compete on this stage wearing the Taegeuk mark."

Alana Beard, Chief Basketball Officer of Project B, said, "Park Ji-hyun is a player who has sought out world-class competition stages and elevated her skills wherever she goes. She has tremendous talent and is a fitting representative of South Korean basketball, exactly the type of player we need as we build Project B."

(Photo courtesy of Project B, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.