Natasha Cloud Slams WNBA Referees: “Why Don’t They Get Fined Too?”
The WNBA’s officiating crisis just got louder, and this time, it’s coming from one of the league’s most vocal stars.
New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud, currently tied for the fourth-most technical fouls this season, is fed up. And she’s not alone. While players continue to rack up fines and techs for outbursts and emotional reactions, officials seemingly escape unscathed, even when their calls directly impact the outcome of games.
Speaking candidly in a recent ESPN interview, Cloud didn’t hold back.
“If I can get a technical in the game for my emotions, I think the referees should be able to be reprimanded for their mistakes too,” Cloud said. “If my fines are going to be public knowledge, I think their fines should be public knowledge too.”
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Growing Frustration Across the League
Furthermore, her frustration reflects a growing sentiment across the WNBA, that referees are influencing the game far too often without facing consequences. However, for Cloud, the stakes are personal. She’s one of the Liberty’s key playmakers, leading the team in assists (5.9 per game) and anchoring a championship-caliber squad. She says she’s worked her “[expletive] off” all offseason, only to watch critical games get derailed by poor officiating.
“This is collaborative to make this thing go,” she emphasized. “It shouldn’t feel like they have too much [expletive] impact on the game.”
This isn’t just a player vs. ref spat. Numbers back her up. The league is averaging 18.7 fouls per game, the most since 2017. Calls are inconsistent, emotions are high, and tensions between players and refs are boiling over nightly.
With the WNBA All-Star break on the horizon, this might be the league’s best shot at reassessing the situation. But with accountability still one-sided, will anything change?
Additionally, as Cloud’s comments ripple across the basketball world, one thing is clear, the WNBA can no longer afford to ignore the conversation.
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