The Liberty finally managed to secure a win against the Lynx on Tuesday, breaking their losing streak against them this season. It was somewhat of a relief, given the previous losses.
In this game, the Lynx went to the free throw line 14 times, while the Liberty had 18 attempts. While it wasn’t perfect, it felt a bit more balanced than prior matchups.
However, not all the officials seemed to be on good terms with the Liberty, particularly Natasha Cloud. She received what she thought was her fifth technical foul during the third quarter when the Liberty were up 52-39.
In reality, it was marked as her sixth, which puts her one technical foul away from a suspension.
There was a moment when Jonquel Jones was called for an offensive foul, and one could sense that Cloud might have held back on her comments then.
“I didn’t say anything. I literally just explained what happened,” Cloud remarked after the Liberty’s 85-75 victory at Barclays Center. “I mentioned that her knees were moving, and that was what created space. I mean, we do get some foul calls tonight, which is nice.”
Coach Sandy Blondelo commented on Cloud’s aggressive play, saying, “She’s got to remember she’s already on one technical; we can’t afford another.” It seems Cloud’s nature is to be fiery, which can be both a strength and a challenge.
Cloud, holding the second-highest number of technicals in the league this season right after Angel Rees, has had her fair share of confrontations. Last year, she logged seven technical fouls, tying with some notable names, and she was ranked 10th the year before.
But that’s just how Cloud plays. She’s fiercely loyal and passionately protective of her teammates.
Interestingly, she knows the penalties that come with this intensity. Yet, she feels there should be some accountability from the referees.
“I think I’m looking for accountability on the other side. I’ve been playing for a decade,” she expressed. “I’m always going to be fiery; that’s just me. So, I think it raises questions about how seasoned the officials are and their consistency.”
As the regular season wraps up with just nine games left, Cloud finds herself in a tricky position. The technical fouls reset once the playoffs begin, but she’s aware that she’s walking a fine line.
Cloud has voiced her thoughts on adjusting the technical foul limits for this longer regular season. “Given the 44-game regular season, maybe 11 or 12 technicals should be the new norm,” she suggested. “Seven just doesn’t cut it anymore. With more games and the same limit, it doesn’t seem fair.”
