Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud is not happy with WNBA officiating.
“On top of the points of emphasis that were emphasized at the beginning of the season, their ultimate job is to control and protect the players in this game, and I think that this group today failed to do so,” Cloud said following an 89-79 win over Minnesota.
Cloud was one of five Sky players who finished Sunday’s matchup against the Lynx in double figures. Chicago improves to 3-1, but the victory came at a cost. During the second quarter, Sky forward Rickea Jackson suffered a knee injury. At the 5:24 mark of the period, Jackson fell to the floor after driving toward the basket.
Jackson absorbed some contact from a nearby player as she moved to her right. When she transitioned to her left and then back to her right to make a countermove towards the basket, the third-year pro fell to the court. Jackson remained down for several moments before being helped to the locker room.
“They failed to protect Rickea. They failed to control the game. … I go up to them, I say, ‘The game’s getting a little out of control. You need to control it. The next possession we have hands all over Rickea, a push in her back, and we don’t know what’s going on with her,” Cloud said.
“Truthfully, I think it’s (expletive). Obviously, I needed to get a tech. A lot of people think I’m a crash out, but it was very intentional because I will be damned if a player gets hurt on our team (from) something that was controllable by the referees. That is a part of their job.”
2026: Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)
2025: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)
2024: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever (Iowa)
2023: Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever (South Carolina)
2022: Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream (Kentucky)
2021: Charli Collier, Dallas Wings (Texas)
2020: Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty (Oregon)
2019: Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces (Notre Dame)
2018: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces (South Carolina)
2017: Kelsey Plum, San Antonio Stars (Washington)
2016: Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm (Connecticut)
2015: Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm (Notre Dame)
2014: Chiney Ogwumike, Connecticut Sun (Stanford)
2013: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury (Baylor)
2012: Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks (Stanford)
2011: Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx (Connecticut)
2010: Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun (Connecticut)
2009: Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta Dream (Louisville)
2008: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks (Tennessee)
2007: Lindsey Harding, Phoenix Mercury (Duke)
2006: Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx (LSU)
2005: Janel McCarville, Charlotte Sting (Minnesota)
2004: Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury (Connecticut)
2003: LaToya Thomas, Cleveland Rockers (Mississippi State)
2002: Sue Bird, Seattle Storm (Connecticut)
2001: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm (Canberra Capitals, Australia)
2000: Ann Wauters, Cleveland Rockers (USV Olympic, France)
1999: Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington Mystics (Tennessee)
1998: Margo Dydek, Utah Starzz (Fota Porta Gdynia, Poland)
1997: Tina Thompson, Houston Comets (Southern California)1 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2026: Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)
1 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2026: Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)
2 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2025: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)
3 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2024: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever (Iowa)
4 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2023: Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever (South Carolina)
5 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2022: Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream (Kentucky)
6 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2021: Charli Collier, Dallas Wings (Texas)
7 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2020: Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty (Oregon)
8 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2019: Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces (Notre Dame)
9 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2018: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces (South Carolina)
10 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2017: Kelsey Plum, San Antonio Stars (Washington)
11 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2016: Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm (Connecticut)
12 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2015: Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm (Notre Dame)
13 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2014: Chiney Ogwumike, Connecticut Sun (Stanford)
14 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2013: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury (Baylor)
15 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2012: Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks (Stanford)
16 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2011: Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx (Connecticut)
17 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2010: Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun (Connecticut)
18 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2009: Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta Dream (Louisville)
19 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2008: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks (Tennessee)
20 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2007: Lindsey Harding, Phoenix Mercury (Duke)
21 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2006: Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx (LSU)
22 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2005: Janel McCarville, Charlotte Sting (Minnesota)
23 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2004: Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury (Connecticut)
24 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2003: LaToya Thomas, Cleveland Rockers (Mississippi State)
25 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2002: Sue Bird, Seattle Storm (Connecticut)
26 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2001: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm (Canberra Capitals, Australia)
27 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2000: Ann Wauters, Cleveland Rockers (USV Olympic, France)
28 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
1999: Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington Mystics (Tennessee)
29 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
1998: Margo Dydek, Utah Starzz (Fota Porta Gdynia, Poland)
30 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
1997: Tina Thompson, Houston Comets (Southern California)
After the matchup, Chicago coach Tyler Marsh said that Jackson would likely have imaging done on her knee. However, he did not provide any additional information or updates.
“She’s in decent spirits,” said Marsh. “We’re waiting to evaluate everything, but she was proud of the team for continuing to fight while she was out.”
Cloud told the media following Jackson’s injury that the team would send in footage for the WNBA to review. She also maintained that a standard should be set for referees for the entire league.
“You can be mad at me if you want to, but I’ll be damned if we keep getting players hurt in this league, on any team, because we refuse to control the game,” Cloud said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Natasha Cloud blasts refs after Rickea Jackson goes down in Sky-Lynx
