Natasha Cloud arrived in Brooklyn two weeks earlier than WNBA coaching camps opened Sunday with a purpose to get acclimated to her new house.
She met the workers and her teammates, discovered the Liberty’s schedule and embraced the championship mentality that’s inescapable across the facility.
“It’s almost refreshing,” Cloud stated Sunday. “There’s not a lot of lackadaisical, there’s no complacency. They understand that they won last year, but they understand now that the pressure is a privilege to do it again. All eyes are looking forward to how to do that.”
Cloud at all times thought at some point she’d swimsuit up for the Liberty.
However she didn’t envision what transpired this offseason can be how it will occur.
In January at Unmatched, Cloud talked about recruiting Satou Sabally to the Phoenix Mercury. Just a little greater than two weeks later, although, Cloud was dealt to the Connecticut Solar as a part of the four-team commerce that despatched Sabally to Phoenix.
Cloud has been on this enterprise lengthy sufficient to know that it may “f–king suck and that it doesn’t always benefit us as players.”
The Solar had been the positioning of a mass exodus this offseason.
All 5 of their starters from the 2024 group that went to the semifinals had been gone. Connecticut wasn’t the place Cloud, a nine-year veteran on the again finish of her profession, needed to spend the season.
“It was a s—ty situation for everybody,” Cloud stated.
Cloud advised her agent she needed to play for the Liberty.
The Solar turned down the Liberty’s preliminary commerce proposal. Finally, the Libs dealt two first-round picks, together with No. 7 on this yr’s draft, for Cloud.
The previous few months might not have gone as Cloud anticipated.
Cloud was advised she was going to retire as a member of the Mercury, however that didn’t occur. Her endurance was examined.
Ultimately, Cloud bought what she needed — an opportunity to compete for an additional championship.
“I got pissed off in the offseason, and I’m using all that as fuel to my fire,” Cloud stated. “I understand what we already had here as an organization and all I was able to add to it. So whatever y’all need for me, every single night, I’m giving to y’all. I care that Liberty is across my chest. … I’m just excited to be here.”
Breanna Stewart was a restricted participant in Sunday’s observe after she had a cleanup process on her knee final month.
She’ll be built-in into extra dwell motion subsequent week. Her standing for the group’s preseason opener Might 9 is unclear.
