As of now, Natasha Cloud isn’t one of the top contenders to receive this year’s WNBA MVP Award.
Given her successful track record this season, however, that should change. Cloud is a backcourt baller and an offensive weapon ready to lead a championship team.
Natasha’s First Nine
Before joining the New York Liberty, Natasha Cloud was loyal to the Washington Mystics for eight seasons and the Phoenix Mercury for one. Natasha isn’t known for her scoring, although over the past 10 years, she has averaged 8.6 points per game.
Over the years, she has earned numerous accomplishments, including WNBA assists leader (2022), WNBA All-Defensive First Team (2022), WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2019, 2024), and the Dawn Staley Leadership Award (2019). Cloud has been a force to be reckoned with for her previous teams, and that is something that Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello saw in Natasha from the get-go.
Finding Her Home
Cloud’s move to the Liberty was so smooth, it was almost fate. Sandy Brondello had even stated, “Sometimes you just gotta go to a team and it’s a perfect fit.” Natasha has mentioned that it was almost as if she were “saved” when the Liberty took her in. In return, Cloud has had the best season of her professional career, starting with being named Eastern Conference Player of the Week at the beginning of the season.
With New York, Cloud has the highest net, offensive, and defensive ratings among all guards who average over 25 minutes per game. She also ranks third in the league in assist percentage this season, and ninth all-time.
Not to mention her lockdown defense against Indiana Fever sharpshooter Caitlin Clark in a heated matchup late May. Cloud forced 10 turnovers out of Clark and kept her 2-for-11 behind the arc. Indiana was left two points behind with three seconds left in regulation when Cloud swatted the ball out of Caitlin Clark’s hands. Because of this, New York stayed on top 90-88.
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Our Next MVP
Natasha Cloud can shut down many of the players that you might pick for WNBA MVP.
It may be hype when the team you’re rooting for hits that buzzer-beater three, but there’s just as much of a high when they are stopping the opponent from winning the game. Offense gains viewership, but defense wins games.
It’s about time WNBA veteran Natasha Cloud wins MVP for all that she has done, not just for the Liberty, but for the WNBA as a league.
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