Mariona Ortiz to leave Casademont Zaragoza for Project B

Mariona Ortiz, captain of Casademont Zaragoza, has announced her decision to terminate her contract early to join Project B, a new global basketball league. Her departure from the Aragonese club is set for December 30, 2026, marking the end of her fifth season with the team.

Project B, a project backed by investors and athletes including Novak Djokovic and Russell Westbrook, is scheduled to launch in early 2027. Ortiz becomes the second Spanish player to join the initiative, following Awa Fam. The new league aims to recruit top international talent with significant salaries and features a calendar designed to allow players to continue participating in national team competitions.

In a message to the Casademont Zaragoza supporters, Ortiz expressed regret over how the news was communicated, stating, “I feel from the bottom of my heart the way you have found out. It was not planned, nor was it how I would have liked, and much less what you deserved.” She emphasized her commitment to the team until her final day and noted that playing in Zaragoza has been one of the greatest privileges of her career.