Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud prepares to face familiar opponent in Washington Mystics
Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud prepares to face familiar opponent in Washington Mystics
After spending eight seasons in Washington, Cloud will play against the Mystics for the first time in her career on Thursday.
After 248 games played in a Washington Mystics uniform over eight seasons, Phoenix Mercury point guard Natasha Cloud will now line up against the Mystics for the first time in her career on Thursday when the Mercury host the Mystics.
Cloud signed with the Mercury as a free agent in February after winning a WNBA Championship in Washington in 2019 and being the league's assists leader and all-defensive first team in 2022.
“My dog is out period,” Cloud said Thursday before facing the Mystics. “I got a lot of emotions. I got fired from my job. Everyone knows that. So a lot of emotions that’s in there for sure.”
At Mercury shootaround on Thursday, Cloud looked more than ready to face her former team after she buried a half-court shot.
Since Mercury center Brittney Griner suffered a toe fracture on her left foot during the preseason, it’s created an opportunity for other players to step up defensively and play in unique roles.
Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts has played Cloud in a variety of roles on defense this season and has asked her to guard multiple positions in the past couple of games, something that is likely to continue Thursday against Washington.
“She’s a vibe,” Tibbetts said about Cloud’s defense. “She’s a competitor. She’s not afraid of anything. When (Griner) went down she was like, ‘Coach, I’ll guard fours and fives,’ and (Saturday) she guarded Tina Charles and (Tuesday) she guarded A’ja Wilson and she probably would have guarded her more if she wouldn’t have gotten two quick fouls, so what we did defensively, and she sets the tone and how physical she is and she’s not afraid to battle.”
In addition to her defense, Cloud has also made her mark and displayed her versatility on offense.
Cloud had 11 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, a block and a steal in Tuesday’s win against the Aces. She’s now the 10th player in WNBA history to record at least 10 points/assists double-doubles, and she’s one of three players this season averaging at least 10 points, seven assists and five rebounds, joining Alyssa Thomas and Jackie Young.
“That’s some high-level stuff,” Tibbetts said about Cloud’s stat line from Tuesday.
On Tuesday, Cloud also tied Sheryl Swoopes and Chelsea Gray with three career games with at least 10 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds (the fifth most all-time).
“For me, someone that wasn't supposed to be here, a second-round draft pick, those things mean the world to me,” Cloud said. “To have my name up there with some of the greatest to ever come through this league. Some of the greatest point guards to ever play in this game, I’m truly humbled and grateful for this life, this journey that God has allowed for me, but especially thankful to do it here in Phoenix. I think that's even more special for this next chapter in my career.”
In 2023, the Mercury finished last in the WNBA at 16.1 turnovers per game, but this season has been a much different story. With Cloud running the offense, the Mercury are second in the league in assist-to-turnover rate (1.69), behind only the Las Vegas Aces (1.94).
The Mercury also have the second-lowest turnover percentage in the league (14.3%), behind the Aces (12.8%). Phoenix is averaging the third-fewest points off turnovers in the league (12.7), and in Tuesday’s win, the Mercury turned the ball over a league-best seven times.
“Honestly, it's something that we focus on every night,” Cloud said about the team’s lack of turnovers. “Something that we talk about every pre-game is valuing every possession, valuing the basketball, right, because teams in this league are too good. They convert very easily off of those turnovers. Easy transition buckets lead to their momentum, so controlling what we can control, which is our turnovers, is a huge key point for us. And we've been doing a phenomenal job.”
Thursday will also be somewhat of a reunion of sorts for Mercury guard/forward Kaleah Copper.
Copper began her career in Washington and played one season for the Mystics with Cloud before being traded to Chicago in 2017 where she spent the past seven seasons.
“We match each other energy,” Copper said about Cloud. “We literally dogs.”
But Copper and Cloud’s chemistry is deeper than being Mercury teammates (or playing together for a season in Washington). Copper is from Philadelphia and Cloud was born in Broomall, Pennsylvania (right outside Philadelphia). Their Pennsylvania roots have brought them together with both growing up in and around the “City of Brotherly Love.”
“I think we both know that she a dog,” Cloud said about Copper. “I’m a dog, we gonna bring it out of each other and when you have that mutual respect across the board, I want her to be and accomplish everything she has to in her career and it’s my job as a point guard to help her. It’s something about love and respect.”
After reaching the playoffs in six of the past seven seasons, the Mystics are off to a rough start this year at 0-4.
But Cloud said she hasn’t been watching her former team and is solely concentrated on the present.
“I haven't been focused on anyone other than Mercury basketball,” Cloud said. “This is all about us, building this brick-by-brick, new team, new coach, new organization. So it's only been about us.”
But despite not keeping tabs on her former team on the court, Cloud has kept close to her former teammates off the court.
“We'll go get dinner after the game. That's my family,” Cloud said. “I was with them for eight years and we won a championship together. So those are my sisters for life, that never changes. But obviously, when we step across those lines, I'm going head-to-head, toe-to-toe. And we know that that's a mutual love and respect that we have with each other, but when we go across those lines, it’s war.”
After beating the Aces in Las Vegas to improve to 2-1, Phoenix returns to Footprint Center for a home game against the Washington Mystics (0-4) on Thursday at 7 p.m. The game can be watched on Arizona’s Family Sports or streamed on Prime Video.
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