WNBA star Natasha Cloud has made a stunning claim that the league ‘saved democracy’ in America.

The New York Liberty guard reflected on the league’s growing influence in recent years and, in particular, during the turbulent 2020 season. 

That season marked the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and also the height of the Black Lives Matter movement following a series of police brutality incidents that sparked protests across the country. 

During ‘A Touch More with Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe’, Cloud said: ‘I just wish that during this time we would have a little bit more voices from our league because there was a point where we saved democracy in 2020, and no one wants to give us that. 

‘But you [Bird] were one of the heads of leading that and doing it in a very loud and harsh way, but a very subtle and graceful way.

WNBA star Natasha Cloud has boldly claimed that the league ‘saved democracy in 2020’

Cloud made the claim during a talk with Sue Bird (left) and Megan Rapinoe (centre, left)

New York Liberty guard Cloud pictured at a Black Lives Matter march back in 2020

‘Which really just galvanized and impacted the sports world to do the same, and it put pressure on people. Every part of activism is important. 

‘I just don’t want to lose that as the W because we always have been on the forefront, and I would say, like, the last two or three years I’ve seen us kind of fall back for the protection of obviously our families and how we provide for our families.’ 

Back in 2020, WNBA teams and players partook in a number of protests – designed to fight systemic racism and violence – throughout the season. 

One instance saw Seattle Storm and New York Liberty teams walk off the court during the playing of the national anthem before the season-opening game.

Both teams then returned to the court and observed 26 seconds of silence in honor of Breonna Taylor, who was 26 years old when she was killed in March by police serving a no-knock warrant at her residence in Louisville, Kentucky. 

The players had her name printed on the backs of their jerseys under their own.

Meanwhile, former star Bird was among the WNBA players who urged people to vote against Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler, who was running to keep her seat in Georgia, after she slammed the league’s support for the Black Live Matters movement.

Loeffler, who sent a letter to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert objecting to the league’s social justice demonstrations, was facing opposition from Raphael Warnock, a black pastor in Atlanta.

In 2020, WNBA players partook in a number of protests designed to fight systemic racism

Players regularly sported Black Lives Matter t-shirts during pre-game warmups in 2020

Former Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird wore a shirt supporting Kelly Loeffler’s opponent in a US senate election in Georgia back in 2020

Bird joined Russell Wilson and Rapinoe in calling for unity against racial injustice on ESPN

Players from the Atlanta team, as well as players from the Seattle Storm, Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury, wore ‘Vote Warnock’ on T-shirts before their games on Tuesday.

Storm point guard Bird, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, came up with the idea, and players had conference calls with Warnock before the show of support. 

That same summer, Bird joined Rapinoe and NFL star Russell Wilson in calling for unity against racial injustice at the ESPYs on ESPN.

The trio of athletes matched in Black Lives Matter shirts on the show, with Wilson beginning with a powerful monologue.

Bird said of the movement: ‘Trust us, we know that sports are important – it’s why we’re gathered here tonight. 

‘But do black lives matter to you when they’re not throwing touchdowns, grabbing rebounds, serving aces?”

‘Our return must be part of the fight for justice.’