The New York Liberty’s big off-season pickup took some time to chat with the media about her new home and navigating a jam packed off-season.
When you’re a champion, the work never stops. You can’t rest on your laurels and count on last season to propel you forward. The competition is always getting better and when you’re at the top, you have to fend off challengers from all angles. Luckily for the New York Liberty, they have a new infusion of energy to help in their title defense.
Over the winter, the champs acquired star guard Natasha Cloud in a trade. Before making it to New York, it was a bit of a rough road for the former All Defensive first teamer. When the offseason began, she was on the Phoenix Mercury and actively recruiting Satou Sabally, who announced she was leaving the Dallas Wings. Satou wound up on the Wings… but Cloud was sent out the door and off to the Connecticut Sun as part of a massive four-team trade. The move shocked her, and the way she found out (on social media along with everyone else) shocked her even more as she was told by the Mercury that she was going to retire with the team.
The Sun lost their head coach and entire starting five this off-season. For a 33-year-old vet like Cloud, being on a team entering the rebuilding stage was difficult and she reportedly asked for a trade from Connecticut. Madeline Kenney of the New York Post asked about her feelings surrounding the trades, and Cloud spoke about her faith guided her journey and her goal of being more patient. She added:
“I would be crazy not to thank Connecticut. (Sun President) Jen Rizzotti and (Sun General Manager) Morgan Tuck were great and amazing from the time that the trade happened. I think we have two people that have been in this basketball realm and understand that business can sometimes f***ing suck, and that doesn’t always benefit us as players.
“And then for [Liberty General Manager Jonathan Kolb] to fight for me, for this organization to fight for me for over a month, to be wanted… that is the most amazing feeling. To be in the position to where I know that at 33, what I still feel like I have to give this game, that is going to be best used in here in New York. And to be a part of an organization that has broken barriers, has pushed us so far as a league, as other teams. I think some people forget, while there’s a lot of big other teams, New York really started these talks of “let’s progress us forward, let’s invest, let’s make sure that our players have everything that they need…” I just come and get to be a basketball player [and] get to be Tash.
“I’m so thankful for where God allowed my journey to go and I’m really thankful for this organization for coming and saving me in a lot of senses.”
A new city, but a familiar feeling
Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images
Now that she’s settled in with her new team, the business of defending the WNBA championship can begin in earnest. Cloud arrived two weeks early to get acclimated with her new team, adjust to the new surroundings, and meet everyone. As the point guard, Cloud will be tasked with finding the best shots possible for the Big 3 of Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, and Sabrina Ionescu. She’s finished in the top five in assists per game since 2019 and helps amplify the skills and talents of her teammates.
Multimedia journalist Greydy Diaz asked Cloud how this training camp feels like compared to previous camps, and Cloud compared it favorably to the 2019 Washington Mystics. The Mystics, led by Cloud, Elena Delle Donne, and Ariel Atkins, were the best team in the league in 2019 and captured their first championship in franchise history later that fall.
Like the great Mystics teams of the late 2010s, this Liberty team is flush with talent up and down the roster. Even without Betnijah Laney-Hamilton for the next five to six months, the team features All-Stars, Gold Medalists, All-Defensive team members, and players with numerous international accolades as well.
“I can’t wait to get ready” Cloud said. “I know that I bring an energy and a tenacity that they already had here, but I intensify it. I’m gonna get into people on the defensive end. I’m gonna push pace. I’m gonna make sure I get our franchise players shots and just be that exciting factor.”
With training camp underway, it’s an exciting time to be with the Liberty. The team is ready to begin their championship defense starting May 17 and the new players on the team will look to play a big part in their success. For Natasha Cloud, the journey to New York was a long and sometimes difficult one. But now that she’s here, she’s ready to take the champs to a whole new level.