NY Liberty’s Natasha Cloud Points to Players’ Backup Plan Amid Potential WNBA Lockout

Fans believe the lack of information around the CBA negotiations is deliberate. Most think the CBA will ultimately get done after intense discussions behind the scenes, and we will be on our way. Unfortunately, the league appears to be trending dangerously toward a lockout. However, New York Liberty star Natasha Cloud has revealed a fallback for the players, preparing for the worst.

“Our CBA is so dumb right now that it’s heading towards a lockout,” Sophie Cunningham said on her podcast. When her co-host, West Wilson, asked whether there had been any progress with negotiations, Cunningham added, “No. Honestly, nothing. We get weekly e-mails from the PA side of things, and it’s just so dumb.” There are still months before the 2026 WNBA season, but the tone around negotiations gives little reason for optimism. And because of this, the players are already planning for a summer without the WNBA.

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“I feel like I can’t say that there is or there isn’t (a back up plan) coz I’m not 100% sure, but I know Unrivaled is prepared in so many different instances and the biggest one being that we own the space that we play in,” Natasha Cloud said on the‘Be Great Academy Podcast’. “So if we wanted to stay here as the players of Unrivaled with equity in this league and with space, financial money, all that stuff, we could stay here, train, play, put on another season if need be. So that’s a beautiful thing, and that’s why I’m so appreciative to be a part of a league like Unrivaled.”

One of the major liabilities of a strike is that players lose access to franchise facilities, top medical professionals, trainers, and physiotherapists. They can’t continue practicing and sharpening their skills. It could negatively impact long-term careers. That is especially applicable to injured players who will have their rehabilitation process altered. It also increases injury risk when the players eventually return to court.

In 2011, after a rapid transition to training camp and preseason practices from the NFL lockout, 10 Achilles tendon injuries occurred over the first 12 days of training camp. Two additional injuries occurred in the subsequent 17 days, which included the first two weeks of preseason. So, having the new Unrivaled facility in Miami to practice and train is a huge deal for the players.

The state-of-the-art production establishment includes meeting rooms, training facilities, a cafeteria with nutritionists, and a childcare room for the athletes’ families to use while they train. However, there are a couple of wrinkles in this plan. Even though the players have equity in the league, it does not necessarily grant them automatic access. It can depend on their management policies, partner arrangements, staffing, scheduling, and liability coverage, none of which are publicly available.

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In addition, Unrivaled has very limited WNBA players. Around 36 players have equity in the league, 18 others don’t. This raises major questions: Do only the players with equity get access? What about the 100+ WNBA players who aren’t a part of Unrivaled? WNBPA could prefer avoiding this scenario since it paints them in a bad light.

They are supposed to be campaigning for each player’s rights. It fuels the ‘conflict of interest’ accusation since the same players are fighting for a CBA in the WNBA, while owning and operating a competitor is controversial. If Unrivaled decides to have another season during a lockout, that narrative would gain steam further. Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart would be using the WNBA’s situation to further grow their own league. Natasha Cloud further expressed happiness at the arrival of Project B, despite being an Unrivaled athlete.

Unrivaled’s Natasha Cloud Welcomes Project B’s Breakthrough

Project B poses a significant threat to Unrivaled. Project B is slated to host seven two-week tournaments across Asia, Europe, and the Americas from November 2026 to April 2027. The league has already announced its last stop in Tokyo, Japan, which will be from March 26 to April 4, 2027. It’s offering higher salaries (reportedly seven-figure salaries starting at $2 million annually, with their earnings for multiyear deals reaching eight figures), an international audience, and 5 v5 basketball instead of 3 v 3. However, to Natasha Cloud, its emergence is a positive sign.

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“I know it’s a touchy topic of like Project B, but at the same time, I’m so happy these entities are coming out here because now W you have to move because there are challengers to you. You are not the sole entity of the best basketball players in the entire world anymore,” She said. “There are other leagues out there that want to compete with you, and are you going to stand on business or are you not? Because what project is offering these players, there’s going to be some f***** that sit out.”

For years, the WNBA faced little real competition. That has changed, and it’s no coincidence. Women’s basketball has seen a major spike in popularity and global interest. It is giving the players more leverage in the negotiations. It will force the WNBA to improve its product or possibly face extinction. Let’s be clear, WNBA is still ahead of both Unrivaled and Project B. But their existence is a motivational push for the big dog in the market to change.

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