A’ja Wilson was set to shine at Liberty’s celebration on Saturday, as the Aces managed to narrow the defending champions’ double-digit lead to just two points with less than seven minutes remaining.
However, Natasha Cloud had other plans, preventing the Aces from spoiling her new team’s banner night.
On Liberty’s next possession, Cloud executed a well-timed dribbling handoff with Breanna Stewart.
Stewart made a single dribble before passing the ball to Cloud, who effectively screened Dana Evans. Cloud took the ball to the hoop and finished despite the contact.
The crowd erupted in excitement with the play.
Cloud had a moment of confusion, mistakenly thinking she was being asked to pay a fee.
This sequence was just one of several pivotal plays that shifted the momentum during Liberty’s 92-78 season opener against the Aces.
Cloud contributed nine points and three assists in the fourth quarter, finishing the game with 22 points, nine assists, and six rebounds.
Having played in New York for years, Cloud understands how a passionate crowd can change the course of a game.
But on that day, she thrived on it.
“It’s moving,” Cloud expressed. “It’s really refreshing and nice when the crowd is on your side. It gives you that extra energy. I wasn’t stressed when we were down by three. We’ve got what it takes as a team. It’s early in the season, but I’m quickly becoming the glue that holds us together.”
Cloud is the type of player who creates a sense of chaos on the court. Aces coach Becky Hammon likened her to a “tornado,” suggesting that Cloud brings a calming effect to the game.
If Breanna Stewart had lingering worries after her March knee surgery, they were likely eased after her stellar performance last week as the WNBA champion.
Stewart had an impressive showing in her preseason debut, scoring a team-high 25 points on 14-for-10 shooting, along with eight rebounds and three assists in 27 minutes.
“I’m definitely at 100%,” Stewart confirmed. “We were a bit cautious with minutes restrictions, but I’m in a good place. I feel fine,”
Liberty’s newly unveiled rings featured striking diamond accents and a secret pair of earrings at the top of the design.
Stewart played a role in the creation of the ring but was still taken aback by how stunning the final product turned out.
“To be honest, my initial reaction was, ‘Wow, that’s so big,'” Stewart recalled. “It’s really shiny. My son, Theo, wanted to touch it… But there are so many details that I honestly didn’t get to fully appreciate it. I want to take a good look when I’m done here.”
