Natasha Cloud’s free agency saga finally came to an end.
The former Liberty guard signed with the Chicago Sky, the team announced Monday, just four days before the WNBA season begins.
“Natasha is one of the best passers and defenders in our league,” Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said in a statement. “She fits in with the other proven winners on our roster.”
Cloud’s signing came just hours after the team waived Hailey Van Lith, the No. 11 pick in last year’s draft.
Peculiarly, the Sky traded draft picks to the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo ahead of the expansion draft to prevent either team from taking any of Chicago’s unprotected players, including Van Lith.
Cloud had become the center of debate as the unrestricted free agent remained unsigned heading into WNBA training camps.
The Athletic reported that Cloud had turned down at least one offer during free agency.
Last week, Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb publicly backed Cloud, saying, “She belongs in the WNBA.”
He also said he wanted to “dispel” speculation that Cloud wasn’t a good teammate in New York or that the Liberty didn’t re-sign her because of her pro-Palestine and anti-ICE activism.
“What (Cloud) stands for is what I stand for. I believe in speaking up for the voiceless,” Kolb said. “There is no better embodiment of that than Natasha Cloud, and she puts her life on the line every single day with saying what she believes.”
The Liberty considered re-signing Cloud before Satou Sabally entered the picture. In the end, the Liberty didn’t have the positional need and financial flexibility to bring back Cloud.
The Sky are Cloud’s fourth team in four years. She’ll fill the team’s need for a starting point guard while Courtney Vandersloot rehabs from a knee injury that sidelined her for most of last season. How Cloud, Vandersloot and Skylar Diggins will share ballhandling duties once Vandersloot returns will be fascinating to see.
The 10-year veteran spent the first eight seasons of her career with the Washington Mystics, who drafted Cloud in the second round of the 2015 draft.
Cloud signed a two-year deal with the Phoenix Mercury before the 2024 season. A year later, the Mercury traded Cloud to the Connecticut Sun in pursuit of Sabally. Cloud was dealt to the Liberty ahead of last season in exchange for two first-round picks.
In 2025, Cloud averaged 10.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 41 games.
Cloud is expected to report to training camp in Chicago soon. The Sky open the season Saturday against the Fire.
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