WNBA Makes Final Ruling on Mercury Star Natasha Cloud's Suspension

Though the WNBA spared her teammate from facing a mandatory suspension, Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud was not so lucky.

Cloud was whistled for a technical foul in her team's 97-79 loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday. The guard had gotten tangled with Kelsey Plum while on defense and expressed her anger that Plum wasn't whistled for what Cloud thought was a push-off.

Cloud's protest drew a quick whistle from officials, who assessed her a technical foul. Because it was Cloud's seventh technical foul of the season, the WNBA announced on September 2 that she would be forced to miss Tuesday's game against the Atlanta Dream.

"Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud has been suspended one game without pay after receiving her seventh technical foul of the 2024 season, the WNBA announced today," a statement released by the WNBA read.

"Under WNBA rules, a player or coach is automatically suspended without pay for one game upon receiving a seventh technical foul during the regular season. For every two additional technical fouls received during that regular season, the player or coach will be automatically suspended for an additional game."

Mercury teammate Diana Taurasi had also been whistled for a technical foul in Sunday's loss and faced an automatic suspension, but the league announced that it had been rescinded.

Related: WNBA Makes Big Announcement on Diana Taurasi as She Nears Suspension