Natasha Cloud was not happy with WNBA officials after the Chicago Sky lost to the Dallas Wings by one point on Saturday. The 34-year-old veteran destroyed the visiting arena during an angry meltdown on her way back to the locker room.
It was not a good look for one of the league’s most prominent leaders.
To be fair to Cloud, she was not the only player to question the WNBA referees. The widespread frustration amongst her teammates does not excuse her behavior, which would be all over the front page of the newspaper if it was, say, Angel Reese.
WNBA officials did not call a foul during the Chicago Sky’s loss to the Dallas Wings.
There were a large number of questionable calls (or no calls) on Saturday night. The referees were pretty inconsistent in deciding what was or was not a foul and both teams were impacted. You cannot blame a win or a loss on the officials.
However, one specific sequence at the end of the game came under heightened scrutiny.
Natasha Cloud fouled Paige Bueckers beyond the three-point line with 30.6 seconds left, which allowed the Dallas Wings to get within one point of the Chicago Sky on a critical four-point play. It was the correct call. It was a foul. Cloud messed up.
PAIGE. BUECKERS.
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 21, 2026
She gets fouled beyond the arc, and gets the four PT play with 30.6 left in regulation 👀
CHI: 92
DAL: 91 https://t.co/UZoZ9EA5zp pic.twitter.com/pyZu20EA5B
To make matters worse, the 11-year veteran made a terrible pass on the next offensive possession to cause a turnover on a backcourt violation. Dallas went on to defeat Chicago by one single point.
Although Cloud finished with 10 points, six assists and six rounds, she was practically nonexistent down the stretch, failed to lock down her opponent on defense and held on to the ball in crucial situations. And the Sky lost their fifth-straight game…
She was already upset. It was a stinker of a performance from one of the best players in the WNBA.
On top of the frustration with herself, Cloud was furious with the lack of foul call on the final offensive possession.
dawg ……. pic.twitter.com/EuA6PntYTQ
— Shabazz 💫 (@ShowCaseShabazz) June 21, 2026
Her teammates were also frustrated with the officials. Sydney Taylor indirectly blamed the referees for the loss.
Chicago Sky’s Sydney Taylor calls out the officiating in the team’s matchup against the Wings.
— Madisyn Cunningham (@MadisynCunn) June 21, 2026
“You never want to blame the officials, but there were some bad calls there at the end of the game.”@Winsidr pic.twitter.com/5SrJihIwG3
That does not excuse what happened in the tunnel…
Natasha Cloud lashed out.
Even if there could’ve been (and maybe should’ve been) a foul called on Li Yueru, the inbound pass to Cardoso was terrible. Cloud did not put her team in a position to succeed. That’s on her. The officials are not at fault for poor play.
And as a veteran, Natasha Cloud needs to set the example for her teammates as a leader.
Instead, she proceeded to meltdown in the tunnel on the way back to the locker room. She smashed some kind of fencing or umbrella as she left the court. The incident was caught on camera. Cloud was NOT happy.
Unacceptable! The Dallas Wings should send her the bill.
Imagine if Angel Reese or Caitlin Clark did this kind of thing? It would be the lead topic on ESPN. The talking heads would be all over it. Analysts and fans would be outraged!
Natasha Cloud should not get a pass. Things happen. People lose control of their emotions. It should not be overlooked.