The WNBA’s offseason freeze has changed the viewing habits. Alternatives are no longer theoretical.
That shift became clearer in January 2026 when Natasha Cloud publicly addressed Unrivaled’s next move and what it could mean if the league’s labor standoff drags on. Speaking on the Be Great Academy Podcast, Cloud laid out her excitement for Unrivaled’s first-ever tour stop and, more importantly, why the league represents stability at a moment when the WNBA calendar remains unresolved.
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This was not casual praise. It was Cloud defining where she stands as uncertainty continues to surround the WNBA’s collective bargaining negotiations. Unrivaled’s inaugural tour stop will take place on January 30 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, featuring four teams across two games. For Cloud, the location carries personal weight. “I’m really excited,” Cloud said. “I don’t know if I’ve played in front of my entire family since 2015, when I graduated from St. Joseph’s in West Philly.”
The moment functions as more than a homecoming. Philadelphia is the city that shaped Cloud, from her school years through her college career at St. Joseph’s. Because of that, Unrivaled choosing Philly as its first out-of-market destination lands differently for her.
“It’s exciting for my inner child that wanted nothing more than a women’s basketball team to be present in our city,” Cloud added. “It makes me so happy for the city that helped raise me, helped mold me.”
That emotional connection reinforces why Unrivaled’s expansion matters now. It is not just filling calendar space. It is stepping directly into markets where players already have roots and audiences are ready.
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Cloud’s comments went beyond excitement. She addressed the question hovering over the entire women’s basketball landscape. What happens if the WNBA situation deteriorates further?
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“I can’t say that there is or there isn’t a backup plan,” Cloud said. “But I know Unrivaled is prepared in so many different instances.” She then explained why that preparation stands apart. “We own the space that we play in,” Cloud said. “If we wanted to stay here as the players of Unrivaled with equity in this league, we could stay, train, play, and put on another season if need be.”
That clarity is the position referenced in the title. Cloud is not threatening an exit. However, she is acknowledging leverage. Player equity, control of facilities, and financial backing give Unrivaled flexibility that does not depend on WNBA timelines.
The unresolved CBA pressure point
Meanwhile, the WNBA and the WNBPA remain separated by structural disagreement. The core dispute centers on revenue sharing and long-term financial modeling.
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The gap is roughly $56 million. Under the players’ proposal, the league would retain about $245 million. Under the league’s deduction-first framework, it would receive roughly $301 million. That difference has proven immovable.
The tension deepens when expansion enters the conversation. The WNBA is projected to generate more than $925 million in expansion fees by 2030 through long-term installments. Those fees are excluded from the players’ revenue share, which has become a major sticking point for the union. From the league’s perspective, adopting the players’ proposed $10.5 million salary cap would result in projected losses approaching $700 million.
Because of that, progress has stalled. A moratorium is already in place, and no resolution timeline has emerged. Cloud’s openness about Unrivaled is not isolated optimism. It reflects a broader recalibration across women’s basketball as players assess where security, equity, and opportunity intersect.
Unrivaled’s Philadelphia stop on January 30 is the next immediate milestone. Beyond that, the stakes extend into the spring. If the WNBA impasse continues, alternatives stop being secondary options and start becoming structural ones.
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Cloud has made her position clear. She is excited about Unrivaled’s growth. She values what it offers players. And if uncertainty persists, she is comfortable knowing that another path already exists.
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