Star Defensive Guard Traded to the Liberty
The New York Liberty and the Connecticut Sun have made a trade that has sent some shockwaves through the WNBA. Just last night, it was reported that the Sun had traded Natasha Cloud for the seventh pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft to the Liberty. It appears that the Sun has decided to stock up on draft capital rather than veterans after they were also recently involved in the trade that sent their longtime franchise player, Alyssa Thomas, to the Phoenix Mercury. This has got to be an interesting experience for Cloud, being that she has been traded twice before even stepping foot on the hardwood for the new WNBA season. Now, let’s take a look at what this trade means for Cloud and the Liberty.
First and foremost, Cloud is a powerhouse on the defensive side of the ball that packs a boost on offense. In her nine years in the WNBA, eight of which she spent with the Washington Mystics, she has averaged 8.6 points, 5.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and one steal per game. In 2019, her efforts helped the Mystics secure their first WNBA Championship. In her 2024 season with the Mercury, she played above her average, gaining 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.4 steals. Cloud’s 1.4 steals last season had her sitting nicely at the 12th spot of steal leaders in the league. She was also named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team in 2022 and the Second Team in 2019 and 2024.
The Liberty have acquired a much-needed perimeter defender after their beloved Courtney Vandersloot signed with the Chicago Sky in the offseason. They look to defend their franchise’s first title win with their core of Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones. The addition of Cloud’s playmaking abilities and defense will open up a good amount of opportunities on the floor as they are a team that likes to run the ball in transition. With the addition of Cloud to the roster, the Liberty are sure to use her veteran experience to continue to compete and give the opposition a run for their money. Fans should look forward to multiple open threes for Stewart and Ionescu this summer at the hands of Cloud.
