Natasha Cloud Suggesting Fever Fan Pointing Finger at A’ja Wilson Is a Woman Beater Angers Social Media – “Irresponsible Speculation”

A'ja Wilson was triggered by an Indiana Fever fan who pointed at her during Game 2 of the first round playoffs.


Natasha Cloud Suggesting Fever Fan Pointing Finger at A’ja Wilson Is a Woman Beater Angers Social Media – “Irresponsible Speculation”

Natasha Cloud and A'ja Wilson (Image via Jeffsl/AStarW/X)

A’ja Wilson confronting an Indiana Fever fan for pointing a finger at her from his seat blew up all sorts of narratives. The most obvious of the lot was when critics reiterated that this was a recurring theme with the fanbase.

Those narratives hark back to when Caitlin Clark first came into the league. When fans were at Fever games holding signs with hostile messages, it set the trend that was already running at full steam on social media.

Opposing players complained about getting harassing messages online, and some even led the players to seek legal help. The league stepped in and created task forces to counter it and increased security, which seemed to reduce the ‘hate’ substantially.

Last season, floodgates reopened again when some, including ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike, alleged that racist chants were heard during the feisty season opener between the Fever and Angel Reese‘s Chicago Sky.

The former All-Star eventually apologized for that, as investigations proved nothing of that sort happened. But the discourse was already there. Indiana fans were somewhat labeled as the root cause of all the negativity that happens in the league.

If he’s willing to do that in public to a woman he doesn’t know… how do you think he acts in his home?

Natasha Cloud wrote on Threads
Natasha Cloud's posts on Threads
Natasha Cloud’s posts on Threads (Image via SS/Threads)

This was Chicago Sky star Natasha Cloud, who started off this message with a direct shot at Enes Kanter Freedom, who stepped towards the court to confront her. But with that reference, she seemingly suggested that the Fever fan in question is a woman beater at home.

Fans tear into Natasha Cloud for making assumptions about Fever fan

While fans are accustomed to Natasha Cloud speaking her mind, they have generally been supportive of her, particularly in her stance against Enes Kanter Freedom and other activism.

But here, they turned against her for assuming that a fan pointing at a player was a sign that he was a woman beater or engaged in misogyny. Fans felt that the Fever fan in question had done no wrong, as he only acted he way fans at sporting events do.

Therefore, it was egregious on her part not just to place a label on him even though A’ja Wilson was the one in the wrong, but also to paint a picture that this was commonplace among Fever fans. Check out examples of those reactions below.

Natasha Cloud has since been barking back at fans on Threads and has made it clear she is not changing her opinion.

That is despite video evidence showing that A’ja Wilson was the one who breached the rules, and the Fever did not find the fan to be the culprit. That is what added to the anger brewing among fans.

A’ja Wilson’s head coach felt ‘lines were crossed’

Natasha Cloud was not the only one trying to defend A’ja Wilson. The latter’s head coach, Becky Hammon, said this when asked what she made of the incident during Game 2.

Becky Hammon and A'ja Wilson
Becky Hammon and A’ja Wilson (Image via Underdog WNBA/X)

I think there is a certain etiquette that both players and fans need to abide by. Clearly there’s some things that the lines get crossed and it seems to happen here.

Becky Hammon told reporters

The three-time WNBA championship-winning head coach made it clear that she did not see the incident unfold. However, the Hall of Famer vouched for A’ja Wilson’s character, stating that she has never seen her four-time league MVP act in that manner.

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