The closest Cloud has come to addressing it publicly<\/a> was a post on Threads that read: \u201cI have yet to speak, that\u2019s intentional. I\u2019ve just worked. No sulking, no whining, just work, and I will continue to work as I always have, proving myself right year after year\u2026\u201d<\/p>\nWith the season just days away and Cloud still without a home, the clock is ticking. Whether she lands with a team before tip-off, or ends up having to explore other options remains to be seen. But regardless, at 34 and about 11 years in the league, she definitely had quite a career.<\/p>\n
Fan Reactions Pour In After Sue Bird Speaks on Natasha Cloud\u2019s Uncertain Status<\/p>\n
Sue Bird\u2019s video weighing in on the Natasha Cloud situation did exactly what you\u2019d expect from a comment made by a Hall of Famer on one of the WNBA\u2019s more polarizing storylines. It sparked immediate and wide-ranging reactions. Fans came from multiple directions. Some were still working through what they believed to be the more valid explanation for why Cloud remains unsigned. Some were offering context around why the controversy surrounding her might not be as clear-cut as it\u2019s being presented. And some were simply hoping she finds a home before the season tips off.<\/p>\n
One of the more pointed responses, however, was straight at Bird herself. The Hall of Famer serves as a minority owner of the Seattle Storm, and at least one fan felt that fact made her public commentary ring hollow. \u201cGirl, you\u2019re part of the ownership group for a team. If you want her signed\u2026 you might be able to do something about that,\u201d the fan wrote. Another went further, cutting through the sentiment entirely: \u201cSue, you are part owner of a franchise. If you really felt this strongly, you would have used your influence. Miss me on this performative nonsense.\u201d It was a sharp but not entirely unreasonable challenge, if the concern is genuine, the argument goes, the platform to act is already there.<\/p>\n
For another segment of fans, the activism narrative itself was the harder pill to swallow. Rather than viewing Cloud\u2019s unsigned status as political punishment, they pointed to finances as the more straightforward explanation. \u201cI don\u2019t get this narrative that keeps getting pushed\u2026 I\u2019m convinced rather strongly that Cloud wants too much $$$ compared to what teams are willing to give her and thus the issue,\u201d one fan said. Another, less diplomatically, echoed the same view: \u201cWhy is this even a narrative? She\u2019s old and wants too much money for what she gives back.\u201d<\/p>\n
And those financial arguments carry some weight when you look at the numbers. With ten years of WNBA service, Cloud is entitled to a minimum annual salary of $300,000 under the new CBA. The league\u2019s new salary cap sits at $7 million, but teams like the New York Liberty have already committed heavily to their core, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu commanding $1.19 million each, with new addition Satou Sabally coming in at $815,000. Fitting Cloud into that picture at a salary reflective of her experience and expectations would have created a meaningful financial squeeze, regardless of how the organization felt about her as a person or a player.<\/p>\n
That was exactly the point one fan zeroed in on: \u201cOr maybe there were just less expensive options out there with the same upsides. Cloud isn\u2019t exactly a spring chicken.\u201d It\u2019s a blunt framing, but one that reflects a reality the league operates within every offseason.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But whether the true reason is financial, political, or some combination of both, the debate around Natasha Cloud\u2019s situation shows no signs of quieting. And with the season now days away, every day she remains unsigned only adds another layer to the story.<\/p>\n
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