New York Liberty star Natasha Cloud recently opened up about her complex family relationships and her activism both on and off the basketball court in a candid conversation with Anna Martin, host of the “Modern Love” podcast. The episode was published on Wednesday and provided unique insights into Cloud’s personal life and experiences.
### Navigating Family Ties
During the interview, Cloud revealed her feelings about her biological father’s absence in her life. She shared that when she discovered he had never reached out to her, she accepted this reality with maturity and decided not to pursue a relationship with him.
“I remember going home and just being like, so, he didn’t want me,” Cloud said. “There’s no need to go look for this sperm donor. Like, I don’t have a want to.” She added, “He lived a town over… It’s crazy because it’s like, I know you saw my name, I know he saw my mom’s name in the paper. For me, that was the final chapter close. I just wanted to know his name. I wanted to know where he was from. I just wanted to know about him, and that was to the extent that I ever wanted to know him.”
Cloud, who is bi-racial, further explained that her biological father is Black, while her mother and stepfather are white. She has publicly praised her stepfather for the important role he played in her upbringing. Growing up, Cloud was part of a tight-knit family that included four older white siblings. However, she reportedly blocked her only brother, Eric, on social media due to his trolling behavior.
### Personal Life and Marriage
Off the court, Natasha Cloud is married to fellow softball player Aleshia Ocasio. The couple secretly tied the knot in October 2020, motivated by fears that then-U.S. President Donald Trump might take actions against same-sex relationships. Their private ceremony marked a deeply personal milestone amid uncertain times.
### Advocacy and Activism
Cloud has been a vocal advocate for social justice issues throughout her career. She praised the WNBA for its activism, crediting the league with playing a significant part in what she called “saving democracy” during the 2020 elections.
“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,” she said.
More recently, she used her platform to address international issues, lending her voice to the Palestinian cause. Cloud criticized Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu for his role in the suffering of people in Gaza, highlighting her commitment to speaking out on global matters.
### Controversy
Natasha Cloud has not been without controversy. She sparked a social media frenzy after commenting on the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Cloud posted a tweet on X discussing the suspect’s background and linking the killing to racism, though she later deleted the post amid the backlash.
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Natasha Cloud’s openness about her personal life and her willingness to engage in activism show the many facets of her character — both as a professional athlete and as an individual dedicated to social change.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/wnba/news-i-know-you-saw-my-name-ny-liberty-star-natasha-cloud-expresses-frustration-at-biological-father-never-connecting-with
