“Stop Lying”: National Reporter Faces Backlash Over Blackball Rumors Involving WNBA Champion

Political Advocacy and Subtle Hints From Off-court Partner Complicate Natasha Cloud’s Offseason Situation

“Since when do we quote Annie as a reliable source?!” wrote a fan.

“🧢 whenever Annie say “multiple sources,” she’s lying thru her yellow *** teeth,” added another.

Costabile has been the epicenter of controversial reporting on several occasions. For instance, in 2024, she faced backlash for showcasing “double standards” in a play featuring Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. For context, Costabile downplayed a Clark foul on Reese while victimizing Clark on similar fouls across the season. Courtesy of numerous such instances, Costabile has been seen as a biased journalist at times during her reporting.

And it’s the same sentiment that fans echoed through these comments. The uproar is even more. Because exactly a week ago EveryQueer’s Kristen Mikkelsen pointed out that Cloud’s political advocacy might be a reason behind Cloud’s current situation.

“One of the best players in the WNBA is still unsigned days before training camp because she is one of the league’s most outspoken advocates. That is not a coincidence. That is a consequence,” Mikkelsen had said.

Aug 30, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud (9) reacts during the first half of a game against the Phoenix Mercury at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images

“Seems like someone called up her favorite reporter and asked her to write something positive about her. Yeah, teams are so interested their waiting until the season starts to fit her onto their roster 🙄” remarked another.

“Never trust Annie she always lying,” wrote a fan.

While the report’s credibility is already in question, its timing has raised further dissent. It’s important to note that the team rebuilding in the offseason is in the rearview. The preseason games are already underway. And all the teams largely have their plans chalked out at this point in the season. Team combinations and building chemistry are the major factors that the teams are stressing right now.

That being said, signing a player at this moment in the season cannot seem to be a team’s primary decision. It isn’t considered unless a team has been dealing with a rash of injuries. As a result, fans are hesitant to accept Costabile’s report that multiple teams have “expressed interest” in Cloud, even at this point in the season when they are already in line to finalize their final 12-player roster.

“Hmm, let @OMG_itsizzyb tell it, that’s NOT true… Annie stop lying,” summed up another netizen.

Several fans, including this one, brought up Natasha Cloud’s off-court partner and current Toronto Tempo player, Isabelle Harrison. After all, being Cloud’s partner, it’s quite certain that Harrison will have a clearer perspective of the situation than Annie Costabile. According to certain fan comments, it seems that Harrison had shared her opinion on the post. “This isn’t true,” Harrison had written in a now-deleted comment.

Even if the comment is considered, Cloud has yet to speak up on this, as she awaits a WNBA team for the 2026 season. All in all, political stances and advocacy are one thing, and so are the doubts over Costabile’s credibility. But a former WNBA champion slowly drifting away from the spotlight and fading into the background is quite disheartening to see for a section of hoops fans as well.

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