NATASHA CLOUD

The WNBA playoff chase may come down to the final day of the regular season on Sept. 19.

The Chicago Sky are at full strength and moving up the WNBA standings after a slow start due to injuries.

One of those players was Washington Mystics star Natasha Cloud who decided to skip last year's season in order to focus on social justice reform. Like Cloud, several of her WNBA peers, including those who played last season in the "wubble," are leading the charge in speaking out on social justice issues. "Our social justice efforts, we're not one-and-done," Engelbert told The Washington Post. As a Black, non-binary player in the league, New York Liberty Star Layshia Clarendon says using the WNBA's platform to speak up about social justice issues is super important. "I don't think there's a way for me individually to stay out of politics or to stay out of social justice because my existence is really political and the country we live in has made it political," Clarendon, who also leads the Social Justice Council, says.

NEW YORK Kyrie Irving is making sure WNBA players can sit out the season and not stress about a paycheck. The Brooklyn Nets star is committing $1.5 million to supplement the income of players who choose not to play this season, whether it be because of coronavirus concerns or social justice reasons. Irving said that with the help of WNBA players Natasha Cloud who chose to sit out and Jewell Loyd, he connected with several WNBA players who discussed with him the challenges they faced in deciding whether to play. To be eligible, players must provide insight into the circumstances surrounding their decision and not be receiving salary support from any other entity. WNBA players wore Taylor's name on their jerseys during opening weekend.

NEW YORK The Seattle Storm are healthy to begin the season with Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird back in the lineup and sit atop the preseason Associated Press WNBA poll. 1 in the preseason since the AP has been doing the poll. You have to go out there and play the games, said Bird, who missed last season while recovering from knee surgery. Connecticut and Washington, who met for the WNBA title last year, were sixth and seventh in the poll. The first regular season power poll will be released on Tuesday, July 28___Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg

WASHINGTON Washington Mystics players Natasha Cloud and LaToya Sanders are opting out of participating in the 2020 WNBA season for the leagues reigning champions. Theres a lot of factors that led to this decision, but the biggest being that I am more than an athlete. Cloud and Sanders each has been with Washington for five seasons. Her commitment to social justice issues is of utmost importance to her and, therefore, to the Mystics organization, Thibault said of Cloud. We will continue to be partners with her and all of our players on their commitment to social justice reform as we go forward into this season and beyond.Players have until Thursday to opt out of the season.