New York Liberty’s Natasha Cloud has shared her thoughts on the ongoing collective bargaining discussions. The WNBA and the players’ union concluded their seventh straight day of talks on Monday.
Through Threads, Cloud expressed her appreciation to the WNBA for initiating what experts have called “marathon negotiations.”
“(And) like thank you to the WNBA for finally be willing to negotiate 😒🙄,” Cloud wrote Monday.
In another post, the 10-year WNBA veteran humorously added:
“Lolol that tasted like vinegar to say publicly 🤣🤣🤣. I’m just playin yall. We finna be friends again once we get paid. It’s like a friend who owe you money. … Like my 🥷🏽 we can’t be cooooooool until you pay your due 🤷🏽♀️.”
Cloud was traded to the Liberty from the Phoenix Mercury in the 2025 offseason. During her time with New York, she started all 41 games, posting averages of 10.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.
Recently, Cloud played for the top-seeded Phantom BC in the second season of Unrivaled. She was instrumental in taking the team to the Unrivaled championship game earlier this month, though they lost to Mist BC, 80-74. Cloud averaged 8.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 14 regular-season games.
What’s the latest on the WNBA CBA negotiations?
After seven days of negotiations, league insider Annie Costabile reported that both parties acknowledged progress. However, there is still a “considerable amount of work to be done,” despite more than 90 hours of discussions.
WNBPA outside counsel Deborah R. Willig expressed hope on Monday that an agreement could be reached within the next 15-20 hours.
“This has been an extraordinarily unusual set of labor negotiations, and I’ve been doing this for over 50 years,” Willig said, per Front Office Sports. “The why, frankly, is because the league underestimate seriously the resolve of the players and what they sought to achieve.”
According to Costabile on Friday, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert emphasized the need for a deal by Monday to prevent delays to the 2026 preseason schedule. There is a possibility that the start of the WNBA training camps next month could be disrupted. In addition, the league must organize an expansion draft for the two new franchises debuting next season, the regular rookie draft, and the free agency negotiation and signing period. The WNBA initially planned for the 2026 season to start on May 8.
Edited by Kim Daniel Rubinos
