In the days before Natasha Cloud became a WNBA champion with the Washington Mystics, she wore different shades of red.
First, for a season with the University of Maryland before transferring to St. Joe’s. She recently returned to St. Joe’s to speak at the “Sport for Social Change and Social Justice” speaker series that took place on Feb. 4.
When she spoke at her alma mater, according to the St. Joe’s Hawk student newspaper, one of the things she commented on was her connection to faith – and how the church made her feel unwelcome being bisexual.
As a woman engaged to another woman, I kind of pulled back because what they’re teaching me is that I’m wrong.
–Natasha Cloud at St. Joe’s (Hawk newspaper)
She was joined by her fiancé, Aleshia Ocasio who formerly played softball for the University of Florida and was on the 2015 Puerto Rican national team. Now, she is a member of the Chicago Bandits of National Pro Fastpitch. Stephanie Tryce, assistant professor of sports marketing also took part in the event.
They spoke on a variety of issues, including social justice in sports and society at large – something that the WNBA has been at the forefont of. When all is said and done, she believes in the unifying power that sports can possess.
That is the meaning of sports.
–Natasha Cloud at St. Joe’s (Hawk newspaper)
