Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud filled with 'gratitude' in new home
The "crazy-type crackhead" that Natasha Cloud said she is will not be rejected by her new family with the Phoenix Mercury, according to Diana Taurasi.
PHOENIX — Natasha Cloud said following the Phoenix Mercury’s 83-80 win over the team she suited up with for eight seasons, the Washington Mysitcs, she was full of “gratitude.”
“Gratitude for this next chapter of my career and to truly just be myself and be accepted for the dog that I am,” Cloud said.
Cloud told reporters following the Mercury’s win she was “fired” from the Mystics, who she departed from in unrestricted free agency.
“I had this look in my eye, like, ‘I’m about to run through a wall,’” Cloud said about her game, in which she had 14 points, 10 assists and three steals.
Cloud said Dec. 13, which might have been the day she was informed she would not return to the city where she won a WNBA championship and was a 2022 all-defensive first-team selection, was a date she had circled on her calendar.
“Obviously, this meant a lot to me,” Cloud said. “...To give eight years to an organization and to be fired on an off day, it’s kind of crazy.”
Cloud let people know she was taking the matchup personally.
At one point during the game, Cloud was extremely physical with her on-ball defense against her replacement in Washington, Julie Vanloo.
Her three steals were a part of 17 turnovers the Mercury forced, leading to 21 points.
“We need that from [Cloud and others],” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said.
The way Cloud has affected the Mercury has been noteworthy. Following the game, Cloud and Mercury all-time great Diana Taurasi dapped up and answered press-conference questions. Taurasi, who has been a veteran of the game, stood up for Cloud as a person.
“First of all, we wanted Tash to come here and be exactly who she is,” Taurasi said.
“There was no ‘fitting in.’”
Cloud has been very outspoken in her career. She missed the entire 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and advocated for social justice.
Cloud took to Twitter/X following the game to air out how good she feels about being in a Phoenix Mercury uniform.
“I can’t tell y’all how safe I feel to be myself,” said Cloud. “I’m thankful man.”
Cloud is seen smiling often, doing dance moves like the griddy. She nailed a half-court shot at shootaround and told Desert Wave Media how amped she was for the game.
“My dog is out, period,” Cloud said. “ … I got fired from my job.”
Cloud told reporters she would go to dinner following the game with her Mystics teammates. But there was one thing she made clear: Phoenix is now her home.
“(To) be accepted for the passion I have for the game and being accepted as the leader that I am, the fiery, crazy-type crackhead leader that I am,” Cloud said.
“To come in here, to be welcomed with open arms, given the ability to kind of have grace within figuring out my teammates. It really has been great.”
The Phoenix Mercury return to the court on Saturday to face the 1-2 Dallas Wings. The game tips off at 7 p.m. PT and will be televised by Arizona’s Family.