Out of 13 teams from the 2025 season, only the New York Liberty was without any worry of losing any of their star players in free agency. Franchise core Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, and Breanna Stewart already hinted at their return to the NY franchise, making the job easier for the front office. Another player who showed intent to return to the lineup was Natasha Cloud.
A champion playmaker, who played a crucial role in the 2025 season too, and was the franchise face with her ‘outgoing nature’ and vocal presence on and off the court. Sadly, she is still a free agent and might remain so till the end of the season.
Natasha Cloud’s Tricky Situation In 2026 WNBA Market
Close to the preseason games, the news of the number of free agents hit the internet, and the former Mystics guard’s name surprised many. When the Liberty locked its roster, adding Satou Sabally as the fourth megastar on the team, the ‘Blackballed’ rumors rose.
Her political stance and outspoken nature were key reasons behind those rumors, but the Liberty’s GM emphasized during training camp that Cloud’s willingness to be open about her personal and political beliefs had nothing to do with why she didn’t sign a deal with the team. But interestingly, there were no offers from other teams, too.
Several league sources have negated social media rumors that veteran Natasha Cloud is being blackballed in the WNBA because of her activism, per @AnnieCostabile.
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 27, 2026
Numerous teams have expressed interest in Cloud and multiple team sources think she could end up on a championship… pic.twitter.com/mUSKSjMVqD
Also, it is important to note that Sophie Cunningham stood firm in a patriotic American view and refused to apologize, yet landed a deal with the Indiana Fever, which suggests that the league is open to talent regardless of political stance. So this is one of the ‘strategic or commercial’ reasons for her free agency situation.
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Strategic Reasons
From a strategic standpoint, many WNBA franchises may hesitate to sign Natasha Cloud in 2026 due to the rigid roster construction requirements of the current league landscape. As teams increasingly prioritize “positionless” basketball and elite three-point spacing, Cloud’s traditional offensive profile—specifically her career struggle with consistent outside shooting—can be difficult to integrate into modern high-volume scoring systems.
Coaches may fear that her presence on the floor allows opposing defenses to “sag” off the perimeter, clogging driving lanes for their star players. Additionally, with the league leaning heavily into youth development and the “rookie scale” era, several front offices might prefer using limited roster spots on younger, cheaper guards with higher athletic upside. For a contender, the strategic risk lies in whether Cloud’s elite defensive tenacity outweighs the potential offensive stagnation she might cause in a playoff-caliber half-court set.
Commercial Reasons
Commercially, the primary barrier for many franchises is the tightening “hard cap” and the financial trade-offs required to roster a veteran of her stature. Since Cloud likely commands a salary near the veteran maximum, teams already committed to multiple “supermax” stars—such as the Aces, Liberty, or Mercury—simply lack the cap flexibility to absorb her contract without gutting their bench depth.
Preseason tips off today, and somehow Natasha Cloud is still on the board.
— WNBA on ClutchPoints (@WNBAcp) April 25, 2026
The ultimate steal is sitting in Free Agency.
Which team should sign her? 👀 pic.twitter.com/PR0ojyCO2x
Beyond the salary cap, there are commercial considerations such as marketing and “ROI” (return on investment). If a franchise is in a rebuilding phase, they may find it commercially more viable to market a top-three draft pick as the “future of the city” rather than investing a significant portion of their budget in a 34-year-old veteran. In a league where every dollar must be justified through jersey sales, ticket draws, and on-court wins, some owners may view the high price tag of a defensive-minded specialist as a commercial luxury they cannot currently afford.
The player has talent and could be a major asset, even an indispensable part of any roster, but she’s not a superstar who can command the highest salary. Moreover, the teams are already looking to trim their training camp rosters, and adding a player at this point seems difficult. As a result, she might have found herself bargaining for a role or salary amount that’s been difficult to attain due to changes in the league.
Natasha Cloud Decides To Stay Silent On The Topic
While there are many speculations and predictions about the experienced star’s future, the player herself has remained silent on the topic, yet she fires shots at the franchises in her recent post. Earlier, Cloud shared an emotional message to the league, and now it’s a firm step.
“I have yet to speak. That’s intentional & my power. I’ve just worked. 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,” Cloud Wrote.
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From her 2025 All-Star Game success and individual impact to the current status is certainly a sad scene, but a hard reality in the league.