Natasha Cloud Bio
Natasha “Tash” Cloud, born February 22, 1992, in Broomall, Pennsylvania, is an American professional basketball player recognized for her two-way skills as a point guard. She currently plays for the New York Liberty of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and competes for the Phantom of Unrivaled, the women’s three-on-three league. Cloud has built a respected résumé that includes a WNBA championship with the Washington Mystics, individual awards for defense and playmaking, and steady leadership on and off the court. Beyond basketball, she is known for her advocacy on social justice causes and her efforts to expand equity in sports.
Early Life and Background
Natasha Cloud was born on February 22, 1992, in Broomall, Pennsylvania, to Emil and Sharon Cloud. She is one of five siblings and was raised in a predominantly white community. Her mixed-race heritage shaped her early perspective on identity and belonging, and these experiences later informed her advocacy work.
Cloud attended Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield, Pennsylvania, where she quickly stood out as a talented guard. As a junior, she led the team to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class AAAA state finals, and as a senior, she guided Cardinal O’Hara to the second round of the state tournament. She earned First Team All-Delco honors in both her junior and senior seasons and was selected as a Pennsylvania AAAA First Team All-State player during her senior year. In that senior season, she averaged 12.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 4.0 steals per game.
Path to Basketball
Following high school, Cloud received a scholarship to play at the University of Maryland, where she joined the Terrapins under head coach Brenda Frese. As a freshman, she appeared in 31 of 32 games and started six, contributing as a defender and a playmaker while earning Scholar Athlete recognition. After her freshman year, she transferred to Saint Joseph’s University to find a stronger fit for her style of play.
At Saint Joseph’s, Cloud had to sit out the 2011–2012 season due to NCAA transfer rules, but she returned to become one of the most productive point guards in the Atlantic 10 Conference. She was named Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2014, earned first-team All-Atlantic 10 honors in 2015, and was a three-time A-10 All-Defensive Team selection. Her college résumé also included Nancy Lieberman Award and Naismith Trophy Watch List recognition.
Natasha Cloud Career
Early Career (2015–2016)
Natasha Cloud was selected 15th overall in the second round of the 2015 WNBA draft by the Washington Mystics. As a rookie, she averaged 3.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game across 19.3 minutes, showing the kind of all-around contribution that would become her trademark. During the 2015–2016 offseason, she gained international experience playing for Beşiktaş in Istanbul, Turkey, which helped her develop a stronger understanding of the game’s global style.
In 2016, Cloud suffered a left hip injury during practice at the Verizon Center, an early setback that tested her resilience. She recovered and returned to the court with a renewed focus on the defensive end of the floor. Her willingness to do the hard work on defense and as a playmaker helped her earn a more permanent role with the Mystics.
Washington Mystics Breakthrough (2017–2019)
Cloud re-joined the Washington Mystics in 2017 after a season in Australia with the Townsville Fire and quickly became a core member of the rotation. Her playmaking, perimeter defense, and leadership helped stabilize the backcourt, and she earned a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable two-way guards. Her role expanded each year, and she became a vocal leader in the locker room.
The high point of her first Mystics stint came on October 10, 2019, when she helped the franchise win its first WNBA championship. She also received the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award in 2019, recognizing her impact beyond the box score, and was named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team that same year.
Return to the Mystics and New Ventures (2021–2023)
After opting out of the 2020 WNBA season to focus on social justice advocacy and concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic, Cloud returned to the Mystics in 2021. She was named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team in 2022 and led the league in assists, reinforcing her identity as one of the WNBA’s top floor generals. From 2022 to 2024, she also played in Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball, serving on the Player Executive Committee and earning a spot on the 2023 All-Defense Team.
She also represented Jordan at the 2021 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in Amman, helping her team reach the promotion playoff final before a narrow loss to Lebanon. Cloud’s international experience, combined with her WNBA play, made her one of the most well-rounded guards in the game.
New York Liberty Era (2025)
Cloud’s WNBA path took a dramatic turn in 2025. After being traded to the Connecticut Sun on February 2, 2025, as part of a larger four-team deal, she was traded again on March 16, 2025, this time to the New York Liberty in exchange for the 7th pick in the 2025 draft and a first-round pick in 2026. With the Liberty, she started 41 games during the 2025 season, averaging 10.1 points, 5.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, while helping anchor one of the league’s most talented rosters.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cloud’s game is built on pace, vision, and defensive pressure. She excels at running a half-court offense, finding open teammates, and disrupting opposing guards with quick hands and disciplined positioning. Her ability to impact the game without always needing the ball in her hands has made her an ideal complement to high-usage scorers throughout her career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her most memorable career moments, Cloud cites the 2019 WNBA title with the Washington Mystics, her WNBA assists title in 2022, and her WNBA Skills Challenge Championship in 2025. She was also named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in December 2020, joining fellow WNBA standouts A’ja Wilson and Chiney Ogwumike.
Natasha Cloud Career Wins
Natasha Cloud has collected a well-rounded set of team and individual achievements across the WNBA, international play, and three-on-three competition. Her crowning team accomplishment remains the 2019 WNBA championship with the Washington Mystics, while her individual accolades reflect her identity as a defender and playmaker.
WNBA Highlights
Cloud won her first WNBA title on October 10, 2019, with the Washington Mystics. She later captured the WNBA Skills Challenge Championship in 2025, was named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team in 2022, and earned WNBA All-Defensive Second Team honors in 2019 and 2024. She also led the league in assists during the 2022 season, cementing her reputation as a premier floor general.
Other Wins and Performances
Cloud added to her trophy case with the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award in 2019, recognizing her impact in the community. In 2025, she also debuted in the inaugural season of Unrivaled with Phantom BC, where she played 18 games and averaged 9.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists, helping the league launch with strong guard play and veteran leadership.
Natasha Cloud Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cloud was raised by Emil and Sharon Cloud in Broomall, Pennsylvania, alongside her four siblings. Her close-knit family upbringing helped shape the discipline and toughness she has carried into her professional career.
Personal Life
Cloud married professional softball player Aleshia Ocasio in 2020, and the couple later divorced. As of 2025, she was dating her then-teammate Isabelle Harrison. She has also used her platform to mentor young athletes, joining the WNBA Changemakers Collective and their collaboration with VOICEINSPORT in February 2024 to help keep girls in sport and develop diverse leaders in the game.
2025 Season Performance
Natasha Cloud’s 2025 season was defined by two major trades and a strong finish with the New York Liberty. After being moved from the Phoenix Mercury to the Connecticut Sun and then to the Liberty in March, she quickly earned a starting role in New York’s backcourt. She started 41 games and averaged 10.1 points, 5.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, providing the kind of steady two-way play the Liberty needed to remain among the league’s top contenders.
Cloud also reached a personal milestone by winning the 2025 WNBA Skills Challenge Championship, a fitting reward for a guard known for her passing creativity and ball-handling. Combined with her play in the inaugural Unrivaled season with Phantom BC, where she averaged 9.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists, her 2025 campaign reinforced her status as one of the most complete guards in the women’s game.
