By sitting out the 2020 WNBA season to focus on fighting for social reform, Natasha Cloud has forfeited her salary for the season.
Her new shoe sponsor, Converse, will cover those lost wages and pay the Washington Mystics star the entirety of her forfeited 2020 salary, Converse told NBC Sports Washington.
Cloud announced her intent to opt-out of the newly constructed 2020 WNBA season last week. While the WNBA is allowing its players to not play this year without penalty, Cloud does not fall into a group that can still receive pay. Only players with medical conditions that make them more 'at-risk' to severe complications of the coronavirus can still be paid.
"There are a lot of factors that led to this decision, but the biggest one is that I am more than an athlete," Cloud said in a statement. "I have a responsibility to myself, to my community and to my future children to fight for something that is much bigger than myself and the game of basketball. I will instead continue the fight for social reform, because until Black lives matter, all lives can't matter."
RELATED: CLOUD'S OPT-OUT SHOULD NOT BE A SURPRISE
Converse released the following statement to pay Cloud's salary.
Converse has immense respect for Natasha Cloud's decision to forgo the WNBA season. These systemic racial justice issues are bigger than basketball. To be able to put her career and passion on hold in order to devote her energy, voice and platform to change demonstrates her integrity and strength. We are proud to have her on the Converse team, are humbled to match her forfeited players salary and look forward to working together with Natasha on these issues as well as supporting her vision in this space.
Cloud's contract for the 2020 season is worth $117,000, according to Spotrac. Converse is offering to pay a majority of that, as the WNBA sent out some checks at the start of the league year.
In early June, Cloud became the first WNBA player to sign with Converse. Not only did the company sign Cloud for her play on the court - a 2019 WNBA Champion and the Mystics' all-time leader in assists - but for not being afraid to take a stance and inspire change.
Cloud originally postponed the announcement due to the death of George Floyd. She was a huge leader in organizing D.C.'s Juneteenth march and has continued to stay in the local conversation about race.
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Converse will pay Natasha Cloud her forfeited WNBA salary by opting-out of 2020 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
