There have been many instances where Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud has received plaudits for the impact she has made since joining the team in the offseason, and there is no stopping of that trend anytime soon.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Signing earlier this year, the Mercury knew who they were getting in Cloud after she sealed the next move of her career as a free agent.
Her defensive persistence, communication skills, drive to succeed, elite playmaking vision and passion for the game of basketball have all been interconnected with one another, seeing Phoenix at 8-8 on the year after a 9-31 season in 2023.
Since he met Cloud, Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts has been a big fan of what she provides and identifies that no matter the score or situation they are in, he knows that she will fight to the death for the team.
“That’s who she is, she’s a fighter, she’s tough, that’s why we love her here,” Tibbetts said on Saturday after the Mercury lost to the Minnesota Lynx. “We are so excited that she is here with us. Every night she gives you a chance because of her edge, her grit and her toughness. We are going to need that going forward.”
Despite the @PhoenixMercury's loss to the @MinnesotaLynx, Natasha Cloud's (@T_Cloud4) grit and energy was on full display per usual.
"Every night, she gives you a chance because of her edge and her grit and her toughness."#ValleyTogether #LynxRecognize #WNBA pic.twitter.com/mBjuetQdo4
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) June 23, 2024
Through the first 16 games in which she has started, the Saint Joesph’s product is averaging 10.8 points, 7.1 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals a game.
Getting to know Cloud even more as the season progresses rampantly, Mercury forward Rebecca Allen has been complimentary of how outgoing and helpful she has been to the rest of the team.
“She is someone who comes in and her energy is a 10 every single day,” Allen said at a practice last Thursday. “I think she is someone that is special to have in the group. As in a leadership perspective, she has a voice and has always something to say to everyone.”
The Mercury are itching closer to the halfway point of the season and the team is currently the sixth seed in the WNBA. With eight teams who make the playoffs, Phoenix would have a spot if the postseason started today but will strive to move up the standings before the year ends.
Throughout the culture change that Tibbetts has tried to establish from Day 1, Cloud has been at the forefront of this quick turnaround and will be an important player from now onwards.
Mercury’s struggles on the road a recurring theme plaguing them after latest loss to Lynx
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
