WNBA guard Natasha Cloud amplified a Democratic congressman’s "LAWYER UP" message Wednesday, adding a "BTA" taunt after Democrats secured control of Congress. Cloud, who played for the Chicago Sky this season, reshared Rep. Robert Garcia's message on Threads with the three-letter caption. "BTA" is commonly used as an abbreviation for "belt to ass," a slang expression associated with dominating or defeating an opponent.
The post followed a series of celebratory messages from Cloud as election results became clear, including one declaring, "A new era," accompanied by a blue heart and an OK-hand emoji.
Garcia, a California Democrat and the ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is expected to become the panel’s chairman when the new Congress convenes in January. His "LAWYER UP" warning came as Democrats could use their incoming majorities to investigate President Donald Trump’s administration and business dealings. Garcia told Punchbowl News before the election that his priorities would include allegations of Trump family corruption, alleged abuses involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security, corporate corruption and the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. "We have the power of subpoena," Garcia told the outlet while discussing the investigative tools Democrats would gain with a House majority.
Garcia also rejected the suggestion that Democrats must choose between investigations and legislation addressing the cost of living, arguing that his proposed corruption investigations were connected to affordability.
Cloud’s other Threads posts focused on voters’ power and celebrated election results in Texas and Georgia. "Texas, Georgia. I love yall bad," she wrote. Cloud also posted, "Man. I hope yall see how truly powerful we are." She added separately, "The world was waiting for us to show up for them too. I just reiterate how powerful we truly are."
Cloud has repeatedly used her platform to advocate for political causes and encourage voting. Ahead of this year’s midterms, she promoted an early-voting tailgate and WNBA Finals watch party in Allentown, Pennsylvania, with Joy to the Polls. The event listing also advertised an appearance by former WNBA player Theresa Plaisance. After Trump’s 2024 victory, Cloud wrote: "We are truly so broken as a country for this to be our reality." She later endorsed democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani in New York City’s 2025 mayoral race and spoke at an October campaign rally.
Cloud also sat out the 2020 WNBA season to focus on social justice work. Her efforts that year included voter registration and advocating for the Washington Mystics’ arena to serve as a polling place, according to the WNBA.