Why Natasha Cloud remains unsigned ahead of the 2026 WNBA season

Last 12 months, Natasha Cloud was the place to begin guard on a New York Liberty squad with championship hopes, averaging 10.1 factors, 5.1 assists and three.7 rebounds. But with only one week remaining till the opening tip-off of the 2026 WNBA season, Cloud — a 10-year veteran, three-time All-Defensive Team choice and 2019 WNBA champion — remains unsigned.

This has been the greatest query hanging over the WNBA preseason. Unsubstantiated rumors about Cloud being blackballed on account of her advocacy and rampant hypothesis about her wage calls for clouded the dialog. CBS Sports independently verified by way of league sources that a minimum of one staff reached out to New York instantly to debate Cloud, and the Liberty entrance workplace supplied a robust advice on her behalf. The standing of these conversations is unclear.

Even at 34, Cloud continues to be clearly a precious participant in the league. So, why is she with no contract? And what does the future presumably maintain?

Here’s every little thing you should find out about Cloud’s present scenario.

Why did not the New York Liberty re-sign Cloud?

Cloud was traded twice in the months main as much as the 2025 season: in February, she was moved from the Phoenix Mercury to the Connecticut Sun as half of the Alyssa Thomas deal, then a month later, she was flipped from the Sun to the Liberty for 2 first-round draft picks.

On Sunday, at the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center, New York Liberty normal supervisor Jonathan Kolb praised Cloud and his time in New York.

“We were really fortunate, incredibly lucky, to have Natasha Cloud on this team last year. We don’t get out to 9-0 without her,” he stated. “And like I said earlier in this presser, that buffer was really important for seeding later. We don’t win Game 1 against Phoenix last year in the first round without Tash Cloud.”

So, why did not they need her again?

Kolb informed CBS Sports that, throughout the offseason, he checked out what labored for the Liberty throughout the 2024 season, when New York gained the WNBA championship. Notably, the staff had success when Sabrina Ionescu was on the ball and surrounded by size. Ionescu had former WNBA MVPs Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones in the frontcourt, however she additionally had Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Leonie Fiebich on the wing. Laney-Hamilton missed final season with damage, however she is again this 12 months. And, crucially, the Liberty added two-time All-Star Satou Sabally, a extremely gifted stretch ahead, in the offseason.

Cloud is a extra conventional level guard who has the most affect when she’s working the offense, and whereas she is a menace defensively, she’s solely 5-foot-10. In different phrases, there have been a lot of basketball the explanation why Cloud did not match completely into the Liberty’s plans in 2026.

Is Natasha Cloud’s activism resulting in her getting blackballed?

Cloud is a vocal advocate for marginalized communities. Throughout her profession, she has spoken out towards racism, homophobia, transphobia and gun violence, and in the previous few years she has supported Palestine on her social media platforms. She has additionally been essential of league commissioner Cathy Engelbert and expressed her frustration with some possession teams throughout the league throughout CBA negotiations.

Upon her commerce to the Liberty, Cloud stated she was excited to be with a company and in a metropolis that aligned together with her values. “I can’t tell y’all how excited I am to be in New York. Not only from a player’s standpoint, but from an activist standpoint,” she informed Black Rosie Media throughout the 2025 preseason.

In October 2025, although, barely six months after the commerce, Cloud stated she hadn’t at all times felt supported in her advocacy.

“I think, if I’m being honest, I mean, my pockets are always affected by my activism. I lose sponsorships, endorsements all the time,” she stated on an episode of “A Touch More with Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe“

Despite that, there isn’t any proof that Cloud is being blackballed by WNBA homeowners as a result of of his political beliefs and activism, and Kolb emphasised that it was not an element for the Liberty.

“What she stands for is what I stand for. I believe in speaking up for the voiceless,” he stated. “There is no better embodiment of that than Natasha Cloud, and she puts her life on the line every single day, almost, with saying what she believes. So I just want to get those narratives out.”

Multiple league sources refuted to TheAthletic the concept that Cloud is being iced out as a result of of its outspokenness.

Furthermore, a number of groups have expressed curiosity in the 34-year-old guard, in keeping with The Athletic, and CBS Sports independently verified that a minimum of one staff reached out to New York instantly to debate Cloud.

How does the new CBA play into this?

With 10 years of service, Cloud is entitled to a minimal $300,000 annual wage per the new collective bargaining settlement. But she is probably going on the lookout for greater than that, and understandably so. In 2025, Cloud was the fourth-highest paid participant on the Liberty’s roster, incomes $200,000, only a bit lower than Stewart’s $222,400. In the offseason, due to the new CBA, the wage cap exploded from $1.5 million to $7 million. The Liberty’s three mainstay stars — Stewart, Jones and Ionescu — are all incomes $1.19 million this season, and Sabally is getting $815,000.

It’s unclear how worth negotiations and worth misalignments have performed into Cloud’s lingering free company. Cloud modified companies twice final month, in keeping with The IX Sportswhich definitely complicates issues.

But whereas cash is at all times an element, the condensed nature of free company in all probability performs a much bigger position in Cloud’s present standing. Due to the prolonged CBA negotiations, the WNBA free company interval, which normally takes months, was condensed into 5 days. More than 120 gamers had been free brokers, due to contracts structured to account for the new CBA. Free company was a turbo-charged sport of musical chairs and there was little time for prolonged contract negotiations.

“What really happened here for us really wasn’t about fit, it’s about our targets and free agency, and the condensed nature of free agency and how quickly things really move,” Kolb stated. “But also, (it) probably felt like they took a while too, because when you’re in the dark on things and we’re pursuing other opportunities, it probably doesn’t feel good.”

What is Cloud saying?

Cloud has not stated a lot throughout this time interval, solely releasing a number of statements on social media.

“I’ve given my heart to every team and community I’ve been part of, never fully knowing if the impact I hope for was truly felt,” Cloud posted on Threads on April 19. “In this moment, though, receiving so much love, support and advocacy means everything. It’s a powerful reminder that the impact I’ve wanted to make beyond the court is real and aligned with what I believe God has called me to do through this game. I’m ok. Just taking things in; even if they weren’t what I expected, & trusting I’ll be alright.”

Earlier this week, after Kolb spoke to reporters at Liberty camp, Cloud wrote on Threads, “I have yet to speak. That’s intentional & my power. I’ve just worked. No sulking, no whining. Work. & I will continue to work as I always have. Proving myself right year, after year, after year. (11) to be exact. I know who I am. I know my value/worth. & ain’t nothing traditional.”

On Thursday, Cloud refuted allegations that she was asking for $1 million.

“Again I haven’t spoken. I never gave a number. Not once in the last 3.5 weeks. Also was not ONCE asked what my number was,” she wrote. “I’ll speak. When I’m ready.”

What are Cloud’s choices?

Although the choices appear bleak at the second, there may be nonetheless an opportunity a staff may need room for Cloud as soon as they make coaching camp cuts.

Per Her Hoop Statsthe Portland Fire have 10 gamers locked into contracts, greater than $2 million in wage cap house and no person with something near the resume of Cloud in the backcourt. The Connecticut Sun has greater than $2 million in cap room and house for a veteran guard. Six-year veteran Shey Peddy hasn’t seen constant beginning minutes throughout her tenure. Bringing Cloud in to work with Peddy, Saniya Rivers and Leila Lacan may match.

That stated, Cloud was traded to New York from Connecticut final season in the hopes of being with a contender and openly stated that Connecticut wasn’t “the best situation for myself and my family moving forward.”

Would Cloud rethink? Time will inform.

But if she would not discover a good match ahead of opening day, that does not imply she will not play this season. If a staff suffers a key damage of their backcourt or is performing beneath expectations and in determined want of a veteran presence, Cloud’s inventory may rise.

Only Cloud can definitively say what her priorities are as we close to opening tip-off on May 8. Whether the plenty agree or not, all indicators level to Cloud betting on itself, for higher or worse.