“Our players see injustices, and they are calling it out,” said Ted Leonsis, chief executive of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Wizards, the Mystics and several other pro sports teams. Natasha Cloud is a former guard for the St. Joe’s women’s basketball team, who played for the Hawks from 2012 to 2015. Cloud has emerged as the face of WNBA activism. They were going to wear their t-shirts and if they were going to cancel the game, they were going to cancel the game, but they intended to hold their ground and hold their stance and try to create change within their community there at that school. Natasha Cloud’s social justice activism is amplified through her new shoe deal with Converse While taking a stand in support of Black Lives Matter, Cloud … But like you said, from the standpoint of  my morals and values, who I am as a person, who I've become in my career, Hennessy's been that. For the Wizards and the Mystics, we have a Social Council, in which we did the march in DC. How does that continue next season and on, when there maybe is no bubble and you guys aren't all around each other or teams, look different next season, maybe teammates aren't together anymore. And now I'm here with Hennessy with the opportunity for me of a lifetime. and W.N.B.A. How the WNBA ignited social activism in sports. First female athlete to join the Converse family. In fact, the 2019 WNBA champion probably doesn’t even belong in that same breath. So to see my name on it was amazing. How Mystics Star Natasha Cloud Found Her Activist Voice "I feel like if I don't use my platform, and don't use my voice, then I'm doing a [disservice] to a lot of people out here in the world." Obviously, we had four or five starters not go into the Bubble, and that drastically changes the outlook of our team. Like the rest of the world, Natasha Cloud and Bradley Beal were watching history unfold. She spoke with me this week to describe the Hennessy partnership, her efforts this year as an activist, and what comes next for her and the WNBA as a whole in 2021. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when a Union general read orders in Galveston, Texas stating all enslaved people in Texas were free according to federal law. You may opt-out by. But when we step outside those lines, it's back to that sisterhood, and we understand that we're all in this fight together. You're seeing the NBA and the WNBA, all sports leagues, be present this year, and pushing those lines again that sometimes can hold us in as just athletes. It’s the only move.’, “They set the example, and the rest of the league followed,” continued Beal, who is not at the N.B.A. Cloud and Beal have transformed their long friendship into a partnership of sorts, serving as the faces of a rare sisterhood-brotherhood between an N.B.A. WNBA Star and Social Activist Natasha Cloud Signs Deal with Converse. But going into next year, the season will have a purpose, just as this season did with Breonna Taylor and making sure that we said all their names. “I’ve honestly been kind of behind her on a lot of it,” he said. I always felt like we could continue to play as well as address those issues and continue to bring about change,” Beal said, adding that “100 percent” he wanted to be there last week as the players walked out in protest of Blake’s shooting. So it's a beautiful thing to see, and it's important for us as WNBA players to continue this fight because we know these younger players are watching, they're learning, they're figuring out how to change the culture around them and that's so important. It was the Mystics that were spokespeople in the Bubble. They saw the Milwaukee Bucks refuse to take the court for a playoff game against the Orlando Magic in protest of the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Wisconsin, the Bucks’ home state. 2 From Lakers, Brooklyn Nets Should Upgrade At Center With Starter DeAndre Jordan In Decline, FC Barcelona Versus Sevilla Preview: Team News And Lineup, ECB To Digitize Every Level Of English Cricket With Microsoft, she did not play in the WNBA Bubble this season in order to focus on the movement for Black lives. Mystics’ Natasha Cloud gets shoe deal from Converse, for her activism as much as her play Mystics guard Natasha Cloud works the microphone during the team's celebration of … I'm a part of Malcom Jenkins' players coalition. She applauded the N.B.A. Cloud said she plans to rejoin the Mystics in 2021. Without taking a single step on a WNBA court this season, Washington Mystics' Natasha Cloud had as much of an impact on public discourse surrounding women's basketball as any player in the league. Just making sure that we're never settling for less than what we deserve. Cloud said she plans to rejoin the Mystics in 2021. She said she wanted to be a “voice for the voiceless.”. There's power in numbers. Washington Mystics star Natasha Cloud signed a sneaker deal with Converse, making her the first female basketball player to join the brand. My dad is equally excited because I got my dark liquor drinking from him. And when you align with the right people, it makes your job a lot easier. “I was surprised initially,” Beal, a Washington Wizards guard, said in a phone interview. Natasha Cloud of the Washington Mystics arrives to a game against the Las Vegas Aces on Sept. 17, 2019, at the St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington. She’s not afraid to speak her mind. Hilary Knight . And so there will be another one looking forward for the 2021 season, and figuring out within our communities too, you know, within DC what can we do? The sneaker company announced Monday a shoe deal with Cloud, a reigning WNBA champion who spent the weekend at protests. “There’s a lot of things we can and cannot do, but we understand what our platform is able to do and we’re just utilizing it to the best of our abilities,” he said. “They do a very good job, and that’s dope, but our relationship with the Wizards runs much more deep than that,” Cloud said. “She’s way more vocal than I am. This WNBA player led her team to the 2019 Championships and is an inspiring, sacrificial player with an unorthodox story. We are both Black bisexual women. “I think a lot of people when I opted out were thinking ‘she doesn’t support the women going into the bubble.’ Absolutely wrong. They got to the playoffs, they got knocked out by a buzzer-beater shot by actually one of our teammates who just got traded to Phoenix (Shey Peddy). And I care about my community. Converse is splashing back into the basketball shoe scene by signing Washington Mystics guard Natasha Cloud as much for her social justice activism as her championship winning talents. The company said her role as an activist was equally important. Natasha Cloud, left, and Bradley Beal, right, led more than 20 of their teammates in a Juneteenth rally. Cloud said that even though she opted out, she backs the W.N.B.A. And I think that's the biggest statement by Hennessy is their representation within the Black and brown community. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. Natasha Cloud of the Mystics and Bradley Beal of the Wizards are leading their teams in a joint push against racism in Washington, D.C. Credit...Kirth Bobb for The New York Times. His death gained widespread attention because of the unrest over the Floyd and Taylor killings, leading to murder charges against three white men. “I know that in this fight for social reform, if at any point I run into a roadblock and I need Brad for something, I know that I can call him,” Cloud said. Beal and Cloud led more than 20 of their teammates and over 1,000 participants in a Juneteenth rally and have spent time in the Washington area on voter outreach, including creating videos. So, what did you see from them in the Bubble, and what excites you the most about getting back on the court with them? © 2021 Forbes Media LLC. And to have a Black man as your spokesperson for the company. Cloud, a guard for the Washington Mystics, was not there with them because she had opted out of the season to focus on social justice after the police killings of George Floyd, a Black man in Minnesota, and Breonna Taylor, a Black woman in Kentucky, gave rise to protests against racism and police brutality around the nation. And just again teaming up with the right people. WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 19: Natasha Cloud speaks at a press conference to raise awareness for social ... [+] justice issues on June 19, 2020 in Washington, DC. “Then we have a busload of other things that’s wrong with society, and I think that’s what’s so crazy — like what is the next step? The representation of Black and brown, men and women is huge, and the same can be said for even my sponsor in Converse. Our other honoree is an out athlete … High school. And so for me.,my first initiative was, I just need to listen. It's just really hard but I am really proud of them. (Photo by Michael A. McCoy/Getty Images). Though she did not play in the WNBA Bubble this season in order to focus on the movement for Black lives in a variety of ways, she has quickly become one of the most prolific voices in the league, even earning a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. I was actually reached out to by Erica Wheeler, who's the point guard for Indiana. A shoulder injury was the impetus for Beal’s decision to opt out of the N.B.A.’s resumed season in a bubble at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla. “You know, I didn’t grow up that way," she said of speaking out. Washington Mystics player Natasha Cloud opted … U.S. Women’s Hockey Gold Medalist and team not only working together, but who are actual friends on and off the court,” she said. “They are helping to force a conversation.”, He added, “They understand the tremendous influence they have to inspire an evolution in hearts and minds, and create change.”, John Thompson III, who leads athlete development and engagement for Monumental Basketball, said Beal and Cloud are “extremely bright, smart and are very passionate about the times in which we live in.”, He added: “Both of them have an understanding that they have a voice, they have a platform, they can move the needle and affect people with their thoughts and their energy and they understand that they have that responsibility to do that.”. That's been a big push for me, is representation matters. And then, to see nothing be done afterwards, it's really hard, and it's really hard for young 16 17, 18-year-old kids to deal with, but these two women in particular, they rose up. Both see their athletic careers evolving to permanently include activism. “It’s just amazing that they don’t necessarily get that respect.”. So, (it) lets you know immediately that we have a lot more work to do, and lets you know where that school stands when it comes to equity racially. What excited you the most about the partnership with Hennessy, because it sounds like they are dedicated to social justice? Their their motto is 'Never stop, never settle,' and I think that's a testament to who I am as not only a player that came from a mid-major that five years later won the WNBA championship as a starting point guard and never stopped, never settled within our community to continue to push for these young kids out here, for minority people in this country that have been oppressed for years and years. “Being in the most powerful city in the world, we know we have the ability to reach these politicians and these people who are able to make changes,” Beal said. A brief pit stop with Schio ended when the team refused to follow public health standards, and set Cloud back on a path toward activist work. They saw the N.B.A. I care about young Black men and women, growing up and having the opportunities and resources that every other race in this country has. Converse signs WNBA champion Natasha Cloud and says her role as an activist is equally important as her abilities on the court. players who support the women players, such as by wearing W.N.B.A. “But at the same time, you had no other feelings but respect, joy and this mind-set of: ‘That’s the right move. So it was really cool to see, but I was even prouder of yes, the work that they did on the court and stepping up and being needed, and obviously playing really well, but more so for the stances that they took socially for reform within the Bubble. But getting back on the court doesn’t take away my love and passion for my community. I'm with Chris Paul and his Social Change Fund. They came together with their teammates with their coaches with their parents and they took a stance, and that stand of wearing Black Lives Matter t-shirt led to the school canceling their game as a punishment for that. And so when you can align with those right people in those rights plans, again, it makes your job of fighting this big beast of reform, it makes it a lot easier. They played last night. “When I’m with the Mystics I want to be 100 percent in, focused on winning the championship, and with the community I’m the same way,” she said. I completely, 100 percent support every single woman that went into that bubble and is doing their part creating and shining light on the issues we are facing in America.”. playoffs roll on, Beal is home rehabbing, but with an eye on getting people to vote. Cloud has been an advocate against gun violence for years, and instantly became a leader among athletes and in the broader Washington, D.C., community when social uprisings began in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of police in May. I am credentialed basketball media member with work at SB Nation, OZY Sports and FanSided. Staff Writer, The Atlantic. So I'm extremely proud of them for stepping up and making it bigger than basketball. The Women of the WNBA Are Leading the Way for Activism in Sports—And Have Been for Years. Representation matters. Now you have to uphold those promises that you made to the community that desperately needs them. She’s very much on the forefront of the W and giving them a voice.”. She actually coached them during her camp and they had reached out to her. I'm a lead in the WNBA for that. “I want to be on the front lines, I want to be in person, standing side by side with our community, letting them know I’m not only here as a public figure but I’m here as a Black woman. So, the more that we can join together, the more that we can bring in our NBA counterparts, the more that we can bring in brands like Hennessy that believe in the movement, the better we're going to be. We just came off a championship and, especially because they’re struggling right now, it’s really hard to sit and watch and not feel like, man, if I was there I feel like I could make a little bit of a difference. Natasha Cloud: The Community Activist. follow suit, leading to murder charges against three white men. “I didn’t make my opt-out decision on social justice issues. “To be impactful is to be present, and that was huge for my decision.”. players who are still competing. Guard, Washington Mystics. ... who has been a leading voice of activism in … Cloud spoke at a Juneteenth rally this summer alongside Beal. “As athletes, we always step up to the occasion, we always figure out how to adapt, so I’m really excited to get back on the court. Natasha Cloud is using her platform with the Washington Mystics to challenge D.C. officials to address gun violence. By sitting out the entire season to focus on social justice efforts, Cloud … Q&A: Natasha Cloud On A Year Of Activism, What’s Next For The WNBA, And Her Hennessy Partnership Brendon Kleen Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. She’s not afraid of backlash, and that’s what I love and respect about her. The sneaker company announced Monday a shoe deal with Cloud, a reigning WNBA champion who spent the weekend at protests. “That just shows how much of a league we are, how much we pride ourselves on being more than just ballplayers.”. For me, my father in law is the biggest Nas fan in the world, grew up in New York, grew up listening to him. I love our team. Where does our community need help in DC that we can have immediate impact on right now? CONVERSE X NATASHA CLOUD. Cloud admitted to having a little bit of FOMO — a term for the fear of missing out — “because I love the game of basketball. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Alex and Natasha talk about her political activism, coming out story, and the inauguration of Joe Biden. Follow Natasha on Twitter, @T_Cloud4. “I had every emotion you could think a human being could feel — from sadness to frustration to straight rage to feeling not safe, feeling hurt, being fearful,” Cloud said. I mean, man, it's already hard enough for young kids that are in school right now with where they are and how they have to learn and being socially distant. Cloud currently starts for the Washington Mystics in the WNBA.On July 22, Natasha Cloud helps to lead activism in WNBA – The Hawk Newspaper G Fiume/Getty Images Since opting out, Cloud … Converse is splashing back into the basketball shoe scene by signing Washington Mystics guard Natasha Cloud as much for her social justice activism … Bringing me on as a WNBA player, as a Black bisexual woman who is in this fight for social reform, (that) representation matters. We'll probably focus on certain aspects of social reform. That is big-time stuff, and I just wanted to ask what that meant to you to be acknowledged in that way. “I’m not going to tell you who to vote for, but we know that the guy in office isn’t necessarily bringing about the change that we want, so that’s our first initiative,” Beal said. (That) representation matters. Cloud chose not to enter the W.N.B.A.’s bubble at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., amid a swirl of emotions. “I’m from Philadelphia, and we’re one of the worst cities right now when it comes to violence,” she said. Underdog story, Philly-born and bred, social activist. Cloud has joined the wave of protests, as has Beal, and as have their teams, which share some facilities in Washington, D.C., and are under the same ownership group. restart in Florida because of an injury. She’s discussing basketball. I joined More Than A Vote, which was really, really cool. I’m trying to make sure I’m doing what I can with my God-given platform to give back and be a voice for the voiceless.”, A Basketball Friendship Became a Tag Team for Social Justice. FILM | DIRECTOR . The Friendship of LeBron and Anthony Davis, refuse to take the court for a playoff game, Cloud saw her colleagues in the W.N.B.A. I think in America, we’re always so quick to talk instead of listen. So your Mystics teammates, the roster was a little depleted because a few of you did not did not make the trip to the Bubble, but still made the playoffs. Of all the professional athletes who have spoken out in 2020 about systemic racism and the inequities in American society, few have stuck their necks out like Natasha Cloud. So that's kind of been my thing with sitting this season out, and it will continue to be my thing moving forward, is just trying to get those low hanging fruits that we can have immediate impact. I'm actually a player rep (in the players' union), so we're going to get our meetings started here soon. The sneaker company announced Monday a shoe deal with Cloud, a reigning WNBA champion who spent the weekend at protests. She’s been doing this for longer than that. I wait for the list to come out every year just to see who's a part of it, who's doing a good job within their community, financially, all that. That was what I loved the most about these two companies, and you can look through the companies and they have Black and brown men and women in some of the highest positions. As a new face of Hennessy, the cognac brand that has long put money and energy into supporting minority communities in this country, Cloud is continuing that work. So from a social aspect, it's amazing. Cloud calls the synergy between the Mystics and the Wizards special. Cloud opted out of the W.N.B.A. season to join in antiracism activism not only as a public figure but as a Black woman. What do you think the next iteration of your work looks like after the attention that so many of you were able to draw and the powerful work that so many of you were able to do this year? For now, she is focused on expanding her social justice work. Converse is splashing back into the basketball shoe scene by signing Washington Mystics guard Natasha Cloud as much for her social justice activism as her championship winning talents. ‎On this week's show, Alex interviews WNBA champion Natasha Cloud. team. (Photo by Michael A. 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Natasha Cloud was one of the WNBA players who chose to sit out the 2020 season in the Bradenton, Fla. bubble to focus on her work off the court fighting for … “It has propelled my attention to want to do more and to want to be more involved.”. Hours later, Cloud saw her colleagues in the W.N.B.A. Do you address the financial opportunities present to communities?”. During this season she averaged 12.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 4.0 steals per game. Without knowing it, I think, (Hennessy is) changing the viewpoint of a lot of young children, a lot of brown and Black boys and girls, that can now see themselves in a different light and understand that there's opportunities out here for them, that there are good people out here, that there's companies that believe in equality and equity. For me it was, ‘OK, I’m new to social activism, I want to align with the right people, I want to align with the right companies.’ There's grassroots organizations that have been busting their butts for years now, trying to fight for social reform and for equity across the board, and so for me it was important to learn from them. Regardless of the situation that we're in, whether we're in the Bubble, the same cities or not, this is bigger than the game of basketball, and just like the NBA has a brotherhood, the WNBA has a sisterhood. I talked to them before the game. But it was really, really cool, because this year was an opportunity for our younger players that have had roles on our team, it was an opportunity for them to step up and step into those leadership roles and figure out how to be better for this team and this organization, and they did that. And so there’s an emotional aspect of it that we feel differently, so every time that I have to have a hard dialogue, it’s draining for me because it takes so much emotion out of me. And so when we step inside those lines on the court, we're going to go at it, we're going to compete. ... endorsements and chances to be on TV,” says Natasha Cloud. Beal has been focused on voter outreach, but he said there was also a need to address police brutality. “Cloud is known for extending her influence through leadership efforts that place emphasis on being a … Cloud said she didn’t feel like she could give her full effort to both basketball and activism. There’s things that have worked, there’s things that have not worked, there’s things that they’ve not tried. Not only from the workload that I was taking on but also it directly affects me; it directly affects my wife. And like you said, companies that for the summer, you know, they put out their statement, they showed faith, and then they're not following up, but Hennessey's been doing this, and doing it for a minute and doing it without necessarily broadcasting it to the world. That's what they went in there to do. Friday’s march was coordinated by Mystics guard Natasha Cloud, who reached out to Beal and his teammates. Natasha Cloud is not discussing the threats she has received because of her outspoken activism on social justice issues. And that, to me, was the coolest part about it. Natasha Cloud gained recognition while being named AAAA First Team All-State as a senior. In an announcement that was supposed to be made a week ago, Natasha Cloud is the newest face of Converse. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when a Union general read orders in Galveston, Texas stating all enslaved people in Texas were free according to federal law. Beal said the public often puts athletes on pedestals, but they understand their role and know they are not politicians. UNDERWRITER SESSION* Chamique Holdsclaw . While the N.B.A. It seems like they would be a strong fit for a person like you who’s done a lot of the same things on their own, but tell me what excites you the most about partnering with them and getting off the ground here. “I didn’t need to know George or Breonna or Ahmaud because we are them.”. But for me, I don't go into this hoping for accolades and awards to be all this, I do this because I have a passion for it and I genuinely care about others. I’m so, so proud to call myself an athlete during this time because it is much more than the game of basketball, much more than any sport, and I’m really proud of all the athletes including myself that stepped out of those lines and those boundaries that the court or field sometimes hold us in, and we did something greater for our community. They’ve been speaking out on social media, and Cloud has made public appearances to discuss social justice. The synergy also translates into mutual respect between the players. The Washington Mystics guard opted out of playing in the WNBA “Disney Bubble” and decided to dedicate her time and resources to social activism. and an N.B.A. apparel and attending games. I'm just waiting for them. My parents are older, so they're a little bit emotional. He planned to spend the time off resting and rehabbing, but the events of this summer have taken precedence. So it’s not sweet to just get through the day. Natasha Cloud . For now, she is focused on expanding her social justice work. Do you address the education system? Beal credited Cloud for always being outspoken. Olympic Gold Medalist, U.S. Women’s Basketball and Mental Health Advocate. I know you posted something pretty heartfelt on Instagram, but I did want to ask you about it since I have you today. To take a stand, to have racial slurs be yelled out while you're just trying to learn and be educated on Zoom calls. “They are pro athletes just like us, and they demand respect just as well as we do, playing the same sport we do,” Beal said. (Laughs.) Outsports Female Hero of the Year: Natasha Cloud. To see a company that wants to give back to Black people, to the people who are kind of the reason that it has become so popular, I'm curious what that means to you, when you see a company that's willing and actually going out of their way to do that. Listen, if you want to write that down. The WNBA champion opted out of the WNBA bubble, and made an indelible impact on athlete activism. Do you address police brutality? You know, if kids can see themselves in a different light then it can change the trajectory of their life completely. She led Cardinal O'Hara to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class AAAA state finals two years in a row, as a junior and then to the second round as a senior. I did just want to ask if you've been in contact with the two young girls from American Heritage school about the latest with their situation and if there's anything else you wanted to say about how they were treated. What has the work been like then for you since the WNBA season has come and gone, you had that incident (in Italy), but what has the the day-to-day been like for you in terms of, you've obviously stayed busy with all the different things you do but just tell me kind of what's been keeping you busy the past few months specifically? When I sat out the 2020 WNBA season, I knew that I had a lot of work to do and that I was going to hit the ground running. “I know that in this fight for social reform, if at any point I run into a roadblock and I need Brad for something, I know that I can call him or text him and he would help me immediately without even batting an eye, and vice versa.”. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. So while it's nice for me, I didn't need it, but I'm so humbled to be on it, and to be a part of such a badass group that figured out how to not only help their community, especially during a pandemic. “She’s an unbelievable ballplayer, but outside of that, whatever she’s headstrong about, she stands firm on. I never thought that I would be considered for something so monumental. It's who they are as well. I cover the Phoenix Suns as well as the broader NBA and WNBA, justice issues on June 19, 2020 in Washington, DC.