WNBA All-Star Wearing "Pay Us What You Owe Us" T-Shirt

You can’t ask for a raise and then immediately ask for a vacation. That’s the vibe a chunk of the internet is throwing at WNBA star Natasha Cloud this week.

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Just days after players wore “Pay Us What You Owe Us” t-shirts at the All-Star Game, demanding better pay, Cloud added another item to the list, more time off. That didn’t go over well.

The league is already negotiating a new CBA. Players like Cloud and others are fighting for higher salaries, and in Cloud’s case, a longer break during a 44-game season. That rubbed some people the wrong way, especially after the bold salary protest during All-Star weekend.

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New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud (Photo By Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)

Cloud didn’t play in the July 19 All-Star Game but did win a $55,000 skills contest. Her next regular season game is July 22. She wants more breathing room between games.

“If I didn’t have a salary cap, I would [shut up] and play,” she clapped back at a fan who compared her situation to MLB’s grueling schedule.

The push for rest comes at a time when WNBA visibility is booming. New stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are driving ratings and ticket sales. Ryen Russillo pointed out the value jump on social media: “If the Vegas Aces sold for $2 million in 2021 and are now worth $290-$310 million, why are players only getting 9% of revenue?”

Jemele Hill also supported the cause. But the Cloud comments about needing more rest struck a nerve. Critics say you can’t ask for a higher paycheck and then argue you’re too tired to work.

Her teammate Sabrina Ionescu backed her up, saying the WNBA All-Star weekend was “jam-packed.” She mentioned flying in right after regular season games, then doing events, contests, and jumping back into practice within days.

“[It] probably would’ve been more competitive if teams didn’t play in such a short amount of days,” she said.

Still, the situation is tricky. When fans see players winning contests for tens of thousands and then asking for both more cash and more time off, it leaves room for mockery.

The message might be valid, but the way of asking is not valid. That’s where WNBA got something to do for sure.