And just like that, the New York Liberty has once again shaken up the WNBA offseason.
On Sunday night during the NCAA Women’s Tournament Selection Sunday special and before Vinyl vs. Lunar Owls in Unrivaled play, the Liberty made a blockbuster trade that had been rumored for some time now.
Earlier in the off-season, the Liberty had offered their first round pick (via the Phoenix Mercury from the big four-team trade in 2023) in next month’s Draft to the Connecticut Sun for Natasha Cloud, but the Sun turned them down according to Madeline Kenney of the New York Post.
This time, the Liberty added their fourth round pick in 2026 and that was enough to seal the deal. Similar to Marina Mabrey, Cloud was seeking a trade from the Sun as Connecticut begins a full-scale rebuild now that they are no longer a title contender. The Sun, now in a full rebuild, will now turn their attention to the college ranks to find a player that can get them back to the title hunt. The 2025 WNBA draft is seen as deep.
Now that Could will be joining the reigning WNBA Champions, she’ll get to compete for a title and showcase her skills in a new city.
“We could not be more excited to welcome Natasha Cloud to the New York Liberty family,” Liberty General Manager Jonathan Kolb said. “Tash is someone who we identified years ago as a prime fit for our team and embodies everything we look for in a player.”
Since her arrival in the WNBA back in 2015, Cloud has earned the reputation of being one of the game’s greatest, fiercest, toughest defenders. Cloud has been named to the All WNBA defensive team three times in her career and won a championship with the Washington Mystics in 2019. The Liberty preach versatility and Cloud can defend guards, bigs, and everything in between
With a roster that includes elite defenders such as:
Breanna Stewart
Jonquel Jones
Leonie Fiebich
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton
Rebekah Gardner
Kennedy Burke
Cloud should fit in like a glove. Her ability to navigate screens and play terrific on-ball defense will help lessen the workload Betnijah Laney-Hamilton has had to carry on the perimeter since she joined the team in 2021. With Cloud, New York has one more option to guard some of the game’s best perimeter scorers
The Liberty have perhaps the most versatile roster in the WNBA as they have a perfect blend of length, quickness, and athleticism at various positions. Cloud’s arrival allows for Head Coach Sandy Brondello to experiment even more with the lineups while ensuring the team will have multiple plus-defenders on the court at all times.
Running the show
Phantom v Rose - Unrivaled 2025 Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images
On offense, Cloud serves as the perfect replacement for Courtney Vandersloot. Cloud has finished top five in assists per game since 2019 and her ability to drive and get downhill will open up plenty of opportunities for her new teammates
A player who stands to immediately benefit will be Sabrina Ionescu who took on some more ballhandling responsibilities in 2024. Her 3-point percentage took a dip as she had to take more difficult shots.
Having a lead guard like Cloud will allow Ionescu to play more off the ball, which should lead to easier catch-and-shoot opportunities. The two have gotten comfortable playing with each other on the Phantom in Unrivaled, and it should carry over to the W. Ionescu is currently in Asia for a Nike tour, but took time out to check the weather in Hong Kong with Liberty co-owner Joe Tsai...
When you’re right, you’re right!
Cloud played with an all-time great big in Brittney Griner last year in Phoenix. This year, she’ll be playing with another all time big in Jonquel Jones. JJ shot a career best 75.5% inside the restricted area last season, and the thought of her receiving passes like this from Cloud should have Liberty fans eager to see the squad back on the court.
New York had the best offense in the WNBA in 2024, and Cloud should help them stay at or near the top of the rankings. For as good as she is on the court, what she does off of it might be even more valuable.
Tash the fan favorite
Minnesota Lynx v Washington Mystics Photo by Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images
When Cloud suits up with the Liberty this May, she’ll become an instant fan favorite. In 2023, she had the game of her life as she almost singlehandedly beat the Liberty in Game 2 of the Mystics v. Liberty first round series. After that game, she spoke about the love she received from the Brooklyn crowd
If there’s one thing New York basketball fans love, it’s a player that goes all out and brings the energy every time they step on the court.
Over the years, Cloud has also maintained a big community presence. When she was in DC, she worked with community groups to address gun violence and is a big part of the annual “The W Wears Orange” campaign. She’s earned the respect of everyone she’s encountered and left a positive impact on them as well.
“She’s in the front of everything, basically,” her former teammate Myisha Hines-Allen told The Next in 2021. “So it’s just like, on the court, you’re gonna hear Tash, you’re gonna see Tash; off the court, if she’s passionate about it, you’re gonna hear from her … I feel like every year, she grows even more and even more, and it’s like, how is she able to do that?”
Cloud will be joining an organization that has made stopping gun violence a big part of their mission in addition to the other work in the community they do across New York. WNBA players are very involved in the community and for a person like Cloud that is dedicated to so many important causes, being in a city like New York will help her continue that work while connecting to new fans who can help accomplish those goals.
The New York Liberty had been working around the margins for much of the WNBA off-season. After losing two key contributors to their championship run, they shored up the bench and brought in some more size to help in the frontcourt. With the acquisition of Natasha Cloud, they’ve made an already great team even more formidable. It’s an exciting time to be a Liberty fan, and as we draw closer to Ring Night on May 17, the anticipation will continue to build.