LeBron James could 'destroy' WNBA with new side business as pay gap dispute takes shock new twist

A bold new plan for basketball could have a catastrophic impact on the future of the WNBA, it's been claimed.

LeBron James was pictured on a boat in Saint Tropez last week for a meeting with business partner Maverick Carter and Mizko Raznatovic, the European agent of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.

But while there was subsequent speculation about a shock trade for James to the Nuggets or Jokic to join NBA all-time great James and the LA Lakers, it has emerged that the meeting was in fact about a plan with the potential to have a much bigger effect on the sport as a whole.

It's been reported throughout this year that Carter has been working with Raznatovic on a new NBA-backed global basketball league.

The league has secured serious financial backing from Singapore, Saudi Arabia and financial players in the United States.

Players participating in the new league are expected to receive equity but would not be able to play in the NBA too – Carter's league is reportedly a full-time schedule akin to some of sport's great travelling circuses.

"Carter’s league has been compared to LIV Golf or Formula One, where teams would play in one city for a week or weekend before moving to another," reports Front Office Sports.

It is understood that the league would comprise six men's teams and six women's teams and could be slated to launch in late 2026.

"The NBA itself is also considering a new league in Europe. Commissioner Adam Silver said in March that the NBA is 'ready to go to the next stage' and explore a new league in Europe with FIBA, the global governing body for basketball, as partners. But the NBA would likely have teams in European and UK cities, which would be a different format than Carter’s."

Caitlin Clark has been at the forefront of the WNBA but has spoken out about pay (Image: Getty)

With such big plans afoot in and around the NBA, concerns have been raised about their effect on the WNBA.

Now on the doorstep of its 30th year, the women's counterpart to the NBA has become well established and recently announced its expansion to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia.

A new global league could destroy the WNBA

But Carter's new James-backed league is a threat to its progress, according to MARCA.

"While the WNBA has fought for decades to gain recognition and visibility, the timing of this new men's league could severely undercut that progress. The concern is not just competition for viewers and sponsorship dollars, but also cultural relevance," claims the Spanish sports title, warning that the planned league could be a 'well-funded distraction' and 'unintentionally reinforce gender disparity' in basketball.