Washington Mystics guard Natasha Cloud was named the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award winner for her community efforts throughout the 2018 season and most recent offseason.
The WNBA announced Cloud as the honoree as someone who shows leadership, charitable work, a love for the game and serves as an inspirational presence in her community.
“Natasha has been an outstanding example of how players value their time spent connecting with the community,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a press release. “Natasha’s commitment to volunteering is exemplary of how socially conscious WNBA players are and how they continue to excel as role models for the next generation.”
Throughout her time in Washington, Cloud has always been a vocal and active leader in the D.C. community. She participated in Monumental Sports and Entertainment's “Christmas in July” and helped in the KaBoom! Playground Build for Ward 8 last year.
She is extremely passionate about social activism and aware of her platform. After every Mystics game, Cloud delivers a prepared speech on various issues and causes, primarily related to Washington D.C., before she speaks about the game.
“We need faces in the community. We let the community know we are here,” Cloud said in the release. “We let them know we want them to support us as much as we want to support them. For me, it was really important to get out to Congress Heights, a predominantly minority community. It’s important for me as a strong black female athlete to show my face and give young females an aspiration and gateway to something bigger.”
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Cloud is the second Washington Mystic to win the award in the franchise's history. Former Mystic Ivory Latta earned the honor in 2017. Teammate Elena Delle Donne won it twice in 2014 and 2015 as a part of the Chicago Sky.
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