Mariona Ortiz announced her departure from Casademont Zaragoza to join the newly formed international women’s basketball competition Project B, scheduled to launch in early 2027.
The Departure of Mariona Ortiz from Casademont Zaragoza
The announcement of Mariona Ortiz leaving Casademont Zaragoza surprised Spanish basketball circles, with El Periódico de Aragón reporting on the club's sudden reorganization. The club’s captain decided to accept an offer from Project B, a traveling professional circuit that will claim exclusive player contracts rather than traditional club affiliations. Head coach Carlos Cantero addressed the media ahead of the team’s Liga Femenina Endesa opener against Impulso Estepona, maintaining that the squad remains focused despite the impending exit.
Cantero told reporters that internal operations continue with complete normalcy, noting that the team has completed positive training sessions following the news. As reported by Aragón Play, the coach acknowledged that losing such a key player will impact the team socially and competitively when the departure actually happens in December, but emphasized that no crisis exists within the locker room at this stage.
Financial Allure and Structure of Project B
Project B changes the economics of women's professional basketball to fill the competitive gap during the months following the WNBA season. Extradigital reports that the circuit plans to operate six teams of 11 players, though Aragón Digital notes that the format has since been scaled down to four combined squads totaling 66 players. Selected athletes will sign directly with the competition rather than individual clubs, entering a draft system scheduled for early January in Korea.
The financial backing behind the venture draws on high-profile investors and sports figures, including Novak Djokovic, Lauren Jackson, Steve Young, and Candace Parker, alongside business figures such as Maverick Carter, who advised founders Geoff Prentice, Grady Burnett, and Alana Beard. Aragón Digital details that the tournament offers salaries around $240,000 for three months of competition—figures that European clubs cannot match, making the circuit highly attractive to top-tier professionals.
Aragón Digital Confirms 2027 Tournament Cities and Players
The competition will run tournaments across international host cities between January and April 2027. Aragón Digital confirms that the schedule includes stops in Hangzhou, China, from January 19 to 24; the Roig Arena in Valencia, Spain, from March 12 to 21; and Tokyo, Japan, where the tournament concludes from March 26 to April 4.
The initial player pool features prominent international and WNBA stars alongside Ortiz, including Leo Fiebich, Juste Jocyte, Kamilla Cardoso, Li Meng, Janelle Salaün, Jonquel Jones, Jewell Loyd, Alyssa Thomas, Sophie Cunningham, Kelsey Mitchell, Nneka Ogwumike, Mai Yamamoto, Awa Fam, Alanna Smith, Antonia Delaere, Brionna Jones, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Valeriane Ayayi, Angela Dugalic, Makayla Timpson, and Park Jihyun, as reported by Aragón Digital.
Casademont Zaragoza Seeks Replacement for Departing Floor General
Casademont Zaragoza management faces the task of entering the player market to cover the impending vacancy left by their floor general. Cantero pointed out that confidentiality clauses tied to modern contract structures influenced how the news broke, admitting that communication could have been handled differently. Despite external noise and public speculation, the technical staff and players have chosen to isolate themselves from outside commentary, focusing entirely on immediate fixtures in the domestic league.
With the departure set for December, the club continues to evaluate roster adjustments while maintaining its current competitive rhythm under normal training protocols.
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