(English version) “To change the perspective or the life of another person is a victory for me”

If we put together in the same person a successful elite athlete and a natural advocator who fights to improve society, the result is someone like Natasha Cloud.

The Washington Mystic’s player has proved that basketball is the most important thing out of the least important ones. Her voice and, her energy moves beyond the court, she has been building a legacy with her actions and efforts towards improving society.

Cloud’s career on the court is impressive. Maybe her profile is not as known as many other players in the WNBA but her work in the shadows was key to their 2019 Championship. Her personality in the court is unique and her attitude it’s outstanding. Leadership is a natural instinct for her.

At 29, it’s easy to recognize Natasha as an athlete, but, if you know her, the strength of her message towards racial and LGBTIQ+ equality will not surprise you, same with her fight to end armed violence in the streets. Her strong personality playing basketball sips into her day-to-day actions.

That has had an impact on her basketball career, but there are many other accomplishments beyond trophies that are as important, or maybe even more for Cloud.

 

 

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❝ Pride to me is loving yourself, being proud of who you are and what you are. The simple fact that me being open and out about being bisexual can change the perspective or the life of one other person…that’s a win for me. ❞

– Natasha Cloud

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Natasha Cloud featured in Philadelphia 76ers' Pride photo series - The Next

 

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❝ They’ve always doubted you. They’ve never respected you. Yet here you STAND. And I did this shit my way. ❞

– Natasha Cloud

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Natasha declared in many interviews that her compromise with the community was built thanks to other players in the WNBA. The other basketball stars share the same kind of energy and that magnifies the message and the platform.

In the 2020 season, Cloud was one of the players that opted out, she considered that paying attention to her country’s situation was even more important.

Her voice was stronger than ever, she became one of the main representatives in sports who fought for racial justice and equality in many demonstrations. WNBA as a platform has made the message more visible helping her impact on her social work.

 

 

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❝ I had to come to the WNBA and be surrounded by a group of powerful, independent, and understanding women to really fall into who I was and have confidence in who I was, not just as a mixed-race girl but also as a bisexual woman. When you are able to feel comfortable with yourself and understand who you are and what you represent, it is easy to speak because you believe what you say. ❞

– Natasha Cloud

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Imagen

 

A basketball player like Cloud knows what it takes to stay so long competing in the elite league, and that makes her message even more important, as she values more the victory of helping to improve the lives of other people.

Cases like Natasha’s makes sports even more important and relevant. She is a role model both inside and outside of a basketball court. A person that is not comfortable with many injustices and makes anything possible to change what makes it impossible for people to be who they are.

As a player she is brilliant, but even in those moments where basketball is supposed to be the most important thing she uses the platform to expand the message and that makes her an even greater player.

 

 

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❝ I am proud to be bisexual. I am proud to be black. I am proud to be a woman. ❞

– Natasha Cloud

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Translated by Vera Varela

 

Images via: Getty Images and Domenic Allegra

 

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