The WNBA season may be over, but tensions between the league and its players remain high. Amid ongoing CBA negotiations and the push for higher pay, Charles Barkley recently warned players to tread carefully: “They’re walking on thin ice right now… just because you’ve got power and talent doesn’t mean these billionaire owners are going to give you everything you want.” Echoing that sentiment, Natasha Cloud emphasized that she expects her own team, the New York Liberty, to step up as well.

The New York Liberty star was recently interviewed on WNBA legend Sue Bird and her wife Megan Rapinoe’s podcast. During the same time, Cloud highlighted that people across the board are in support of higher pay. This includes the New York Liberty, too. Cloud admitted, “We have the support at least in New York of our ownership and of our GM to push for what we deserve.”

It is no secret that the female basketball players have been demanding higher pay for a long time. But after the Napheesa Collier-Cathy Engelbert saga, there has been a coldness between the players and the league. Also, with the CBA dates nearing, there’s a fear of a lockout, and neither side is budging. In light of this, Natasha Cloud is asking her team to do more. Now, while the team front office might be pushing the WNBA management, they have another demand from Cloud.

“Y’all don’t even know all the teams that are being brought into for $200m, and what is it $250m. We don’t even see a dime of it. Players do not see a dime of any of that money,” said Cloud. For Cloud, though, it isn’t just about players. “So, it’s not enough to only give us revenue share from the league standpoint. We’re asking for revenue share from the team standpoint, too.” The reasons behind the revenue-sharing model are, if the players commit to a fixed amount now, things might change in a few years.

“Understanding with…. I think they’re asking us eight years on this CBA. In two years, that whatever little chunk of money that you’re trying to dangle in front of our faces, don’t insult our intelligence since we know in 2 years, that is going to double in price. And so, we’re just here for our value and for our worth.” The league saw a massive jump in its numbers from 2023 to what it stands in 2025 after the inclusion of Clark and the likes of Paige Bueckers and more.

As explained by Bloomberg reporter Jennah Haque, base salaries as a share of total revenue shrank to around 9.3% in fiscal 2022. This was a drop from 11.1% in fiscal 2019. A reason for this was that, under the existing CB agreement, the league must meet tough goals to allow revenue sharing. For example, the league must see 20% revenue growth every year, with the 2019 season serving as the baseline. As seen due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was only an 8.5% growth.

In light of this, players like Natasha Cloud are seeking a proper revenue-sharing system not only from the league but from the teams, too. As of now, the league has declined to comment on whether its current proposal retains the same revenue-sharing structure. The WNBPA did not respond to requests to clarify its own understanding of that proposal.

Natasha Cloud has now come out as a voice in support of revenue sharing. However, the same wasn’t a surprise, given how she had publicly given out support to Napheesa Collier earlier. Furthermore, any changes to the CBA will allow her to make a better decision on which team to go to next.

Will Natasha Cloud return to the New York Liberty?

Natasha Cloud was traded to the New York Liberty back in March 2025 after spending just one month with the Connecticut Sun. Going into the 2025 season, however, she was still playing under the 2-year, $400,000 contract she had signed with the Phoenix Mercury. Under the terms of this deal, she will become an unrestricted free agent next year.

As reported by ESPN, under the current WNBA/NBA collective bargaining framework, New York could ‘core’ Cloud, along with star player Sabrina Ionescu. However, it all depends on how the CBA negotiations land. After all, a new CBA could change how many ‘core’ players a team can designate. Or even adjust valuation thresholds.

Additionally, even with revenue growth, teams will be restricted on how much they can spend on players. Therefore, in the need to retain core stars, add new talent, and/or navigate cap constraints, Natasha Cloud might not be retained if her expected market value is high.

Would you like to see Natasha Cloud return to Liberty? Additionally, where do you stand on revenue sharing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.