Natasha Cloud has never been one to bite her tongue, and this weekend she proved it again—both on and off the court. The veteran WNBA guard, known for her fierce play and even fiercer opinions, let loose on a fan who threw a sex toy onto the court during Friday's game between the Chicago Sky and the Golden Valkyries. But that was just the opening act. Cloud also took direct aim at President Donald Trump, making her feelings about the commander-in-chief unmistakably clear.
During her post-game press conference, Cloud didn't mince words about the fan's behavior. "Y'all lame as (expletive), sorry mom," she said, as transcribed by AwfulAnnouncing.com. "In most of these occasions, it's men. I want you to know that is the gayest thing that you can do, is to go to a store, a sex shop, buy a dildo, come to a women's game, to throw the dildo on the court. That is the gayest (expletive) that I've ever heard."
Cloud went on to tie the incident to broader issues of hate and marginalization. "I'm a firm believer in anyone that has so much problem with a certain marginalized group, just come out and say that you're a part of our marginalized group, because that hate is unwarranted. It's not factual," she said. "And it says more about the internal struggles of that individual than it ever will say about the collective group. The men that are throwing it, it also shows that you are weak, like extremely weak. And it says a lot about how you feel about women. You don't care about the disruption of the game, you all lame as (expletive), you all gay to us. We see it. Keep throwing them if you just want to keep telling us you're gay."
Cloud's comments quickly went viral, sparking debate among fans about double standards in how athletes are perceived when they speak out. But for Cloud, this was just another day of being unapologetically herself.
The 34-year-old guard has long been a vocal critic of President Trump, and she didn't shy away from revisiting that criticism. When Trump tweeted about bombing Iran on Easter Sunday, Cloud fired back on social media, questioning his faith. "A sitting president who claims to be 'a God fearing man' to be tweeting on Easter Sunday that he will bomb Iran's infrastructure IS NOT A MAN OF CHRIST," she wrote. "A reminder that yes Jesus died for our sins, but He was murdered by…. the governing Authority. He did not follow THEIR law, because THEIR law is not God's law. A part we TOO often just pass over."
Cloud has also called Trump's America "trash" in the past, doubling down on her belief that the country fails marginalized communities. "Our country is trash in so many ways and instead of using our resources to make it better we continue to oppress Marginalized groups that we have targeted since the beginning of times. Black/brown communities& LGBTQ+ man we are too powerful to still be attacking issues separate," she wrote in a since-deleted post, adding, "There is power in numbers."
Cloud's outspokenness has made her a polarizing figure, but it's also earned her respect. She's not afraid to call out injustice, whether it's on the court or in the White House. Her willingness to speak truth to power has drawn comparisons to other athletes who've used their platforms, like Angel Reese's unflinching honesty after tough losses.
While some might criticize Cloud for mixing politics with sports, she sees it as part of her duty. "I'm a firm believer in using my voice," she once said, and she's proven that time and again. Whether she's calling out a disrespectful fan or taking on the president, Cloud refuses to stay silent.
As the WNBA season heats up, Cloud's comments are sure to keep making waves. But for those who know her, this is just Natasha being Natasha—raw, real, and ready to fight for what she believes in.
