Natasha "Tash" Cloud (born February 22, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Early life
During high school, Cloud led Cardinal O'Hara to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class AAAA state finals as a junior and to the second round as a senior. She earned First Team All-Delco honors in both her junior and senior year. As a junior, she additionally earned a Pennsylvania AAAA Third Team All-State selection.
Natasha Cloud gained recognition after being named AAAA First Team All-State as a senior. During the season, she averaged 12.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 4.0 steals per game. She earned the Michael Menichini Award in 2009.
Following her high school career, Cloud received a scholarship to play at the University of Maryland as a Terp.
College career
University of Maryland
2010–2011: Cloud played in 31 of 32 games of her freshman year and started six times. During the season, she led the team in assists twice and in blocks three times while also being named a Scholar Athlete.
Her coach, Brenda Frese, stated that:
Natasha is a very athletic and unselfish player who will do whatever her team needs to help us win. She's a strong defensive player, who can play either guard spot and is a terrific passer. Natasha has a ton of personality, is a good student and fits right in with our team.
Following the 2010-2011 basketball season, Cloud transferred to Saint Joseph's University.
Saint Joseph's University
2011–2012: Due to NCAA transfer rules, Cloud sat out the 2011–2012 season. She was named a member of the SJU Director's Honor Roll.
2013–2014: Cloud served as co-captain of her team. She earned Atlantic 10 (A10) Defensive Player of the Year and was additionally named to the A10 All-Conference Second Team. She was named to the Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List for the top point guard in the nation.
During the season, Cloud averaged 11.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game. She ranked second nationally in assists per game, setting the SJU single-season record for assists (243) and leading the A10 in assists and assists to turnover ratio. During the 2014 NCAA tournament, she scored 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two blocked shots, and two steals in a first round win over Georgia. During the second round, she posted 10 points, six assists, one block, and one steal against Connecticut, the eventual champions.
2014–2015: Cloud served as the co-captain of her team for the second straight year. She was named Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team and was an All-Defensive Team selection. She was a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award and Naismith Trophy Watch List nominee.
During the season, Cloud averaged 12.9 points a game and led the Atlantic 10 in assists and averaged minutes. She scored a career-high 29 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot against Liberty.
Professional career
WNBA
Cloud was selected in the second round and 15th overall by the Washington Mystics in the 2015 WNBA draft. During her rookie season, she averaged 3.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game over an average of 19.3 minutes.
In 2016, Cloud suffered a left hip injury during practice at the Verizon Center.
On October 10, 2019, Cloud won her first WNBA championship.
In June 2020, Cloud announced that she would forgo the 2020 WNBA season due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and a desire to focus on social justice advocacy.
After playing for the Mystics for nine years, Cloud signed to the Phoenix Mercury in 2024.
On February 2, 2025, Cloud was traded to the Connecticut Sun. The deal was originally reported as Cloud, Rebecca Allen, and the 12th pick in the 2025 WNBA draft being traded in exchange for Alyssa Thomas and Tyasha Harris; however, it was officially part of a larger four-team trade.
On March 16, 2025, Cloud was traded once again, this time to the New York Liberty for the 7th pick in the 2025 draft, and a first round draft pick in 2026.
International
During the 2015–2016 season, Cloud played in Istanbul, Turkey for Beşiktaş.
Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball
From 2022 to 2024, Cloud played for Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball. She was a member of the Player Executive Committee from 2022 to 2023 and named to the league's 2023 All Defense Team.
Unrivaled
On August 27, 2024, it was announced that Cloud would appear and play in the inaugural season of Unrivaled, the women's 3-on-3 basketball league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.
National team career
Cloud represented Jordan at the 2021 FIBA Women's Asia Cup in Amman, Jordan. She helped her team to reach the promotion playoff final, before losing to Lebanon and missing promotion to Division A.
Career statistics
WNBA
Regular season
Stats current through end of 2024 season
Playoffs
College
Source
Off the court
Personal life
Cloud was married to professional softball player, Aleshia Ocasio in 2019. They separated and divorced three years later.
Philanthropy
In February 2024, Cloud joined the WNBA Changemakers Collective and their collaboration with VOICEINSPORT (VIS) as a mentor, "aimed at keeping girls in sport and developing diverse leaders on the court and beyond the game."
In popular culture
In December 2020, Cloud was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 alongside fellow WNBA players A'ja Wilson and Chiney Ogwumike.
References
External links
- Career statistics from WNBA.com and Basketball Reference
- St. Joseph's bio
