WNBA veteran Natasha Cloud has openly criticized WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert over the growing threats players receive from sports bettors. Cloud described hateful messages as a routine occurrence, with players frequently targeted by racially charged and violent threats following games. She commended Chelsea Gray for bringing attention to the issue, urging Engelbert to take stronger action to protect players and improve their safety amid expanding sports betting influence.

The sports bettor threats are set to be a key subject of an upcoming meeting between Engelbert and Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) leadership before the WNBA All-Star weekend. Elizabeth Williams, a Chicago Sky teammate and WNBPA secretary, emphasized the need for proactive and tangible efforts to safeguard players, as the current approach is viewed as largely reactive. The players initiated the meeting request even before recent public incidents involving star players Chelsea Gray and Alyssa Thomas spotlighted the dangers.

Cloud also called on NBA commissioner Adam Silver to co-lead efforts in addressing the issue, highlighting how athletes in both leagues face harassment connected to betting outcomes. She stressed the importance of leagues prioritizing player safety and protection as they embrace partnerships with the sports betting industry. Many players, including Elizabeth Williams, see the rise in threats partly as an excuse for expressing preexisting racist attitudes cloaked behind betting frustrations.

The WNBA launched the “No Space for Hate” campaign in 2025 to combat online abuse and provide resources to players, but criticism remains about the league’s slow, reactive stance on player well-being. Despite technology that filters some hate messages, players emphasize that the surge in threatening behavior linked to sports betting activities requires stronger and earlier intervention to ensure player safety both on and off the court in an evolving sports landscape.