Natasha Cloud Faces Former Team
Liberty point guard Natasha Cloud might have left behind some offseason turmoil, but she hasn’t completely moved on from it.
This Thursday, she’ll be squaring off against her old team for the first time since a contentious offseason trade.
After spending eight seasons with Washington, Cloud joined the Mercury last season, where she had a chance to think about retirement.
However, the landscape shifted when Satou Sabally, a highly sought-after player during the prior free agency, decided to land with Phoenix instead.
Adding insult to injury, just two weeks ago, Cloud expressed excitement about potentially recruiting Sabally to the Mercury.
In a surprising turn, Cloud was traded to the Connecticut Sun as part of a complex four-team deal that sent Severly and Alyssa Thomas to Phoenix.
Cloud intended to communicate her desire to play elsewhere to the Sun, who initially rejected her first trade request.
Eventually, two first-round draft picks—one being this year’s No. 7—facilitated Cloud’s move to New York.
During training camp, Cloud described the sense of freedom she felt after the trade, but also mentioned feeling disrespected by how the Mercury handled things.
It’s been four months since that shocking four-team deal rocked the WNBA, and while the Mercury and Cloud seem to be doing better, the fallout is still notable.
Sabally is thriving in Phoenix, contributing to the team’s surprising start this season.
So far, Phoenix has kicked off the season with a 7-4 record, even without key player Karea Copper, with Sabally averaging 20.6 points per game.
Bronze made her return for a win over the Aces last Sunday, while Phoenix was set to face the Sun on Wednesday.
On the other hand, Liberty stands at a solid 10-1, and Cloud has quickly adapted to her role in the starting lineup.
She’s become an effective complementary player, often leaning on the scoring abilities of Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart.
Leading her team with an average of six assists per game, Cloud truly excels on the defensive end.
Interestingly, there seems to be an “offended” cloud looming over her this offseason.
Yet she’s using that negative energy as “fuel for my fire,” which should make for an intriguing matchup against the team that ignited that fuel.
