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WNBA has experienced unprecedented growth and attention over the past few seasons.
New York Liberty Defender Natasha Cloud spoke about how players are taking advantage of the league's growing influence, especially during the 2020 season. That year marked the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and incidents of police brutality sparked protests for social justice and equality across the US, bringing the Black Lives Matter movement to the forefront.
That summer, during the biosecurity bubble in Florida, WNBA players used their platforms to showcase their activism. Cloud was among those who spoke out.
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New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud during a game against the Golden State Valkyries at Barclays Center on May 29, 2025 in Brooklyn, New York. (Jon Jones/Imagn Images)
She noted that WNBA players became leaders and helped preserve democracy in America at a crucial time.
“I just wish we had a little more votes in our league during this time because there was a point where we saved democracy in 2020 and no one wants to give that to us. But you were one of the leaders who led this, and you did it very loudly and sharply, but very subtly and gracefully,” Cloud said during a recent appearance on the channel “Touch more with Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe.
New York Liberty defender Natasha Cloud warms up before a game against the Seattle Storm at Barclays Center on July 6, 2025 in Brooklyn, New York. (Jon Jones/Imagn Images)
“It really just stimulated and influenced the sports world to do the same and put pressure on people.”
While Cloud considers 2020 a landmark year, she also expressed concern about the decline of advocacy in today's WNBA.
Natasha Cloud of the New York Liberty dribbles against the Chicago Sky during the first half at Barclays Center on August 21, 2025 in New York, New York. (Evan Bernstein/Getty Images)
“Every part of activism is important,” Cloud said. “I just don't want to lose it as a W because we've always been on the front lines and I would say the last two or three years I've seen us kind of pull back, obviously to protect our families and how we provide for our families.”
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In her first season with the Liberty, Cloud averaged 10.1 points and 5.1 assists per game. She joined Phoenix Mercury in 2024 and spent the first eight seasons of her WNBA career with the Washington Mystics.
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