New York Liberty fans were busy celebrating their 2024 WNBA championship with banner raising as well as a ring ceremony, when the new debut Natasha Cloud gave them another reason to celebrate with her phenomenal performance. The newcomers in the team stole the show completely and kicked off the new season with a bang. If you are someone who wants to know more about Natasha Cloud’s exceptional performance, this article is for you. It brings you everything you need to know, including the reactions from teammates and the coach of the opposing team.
Natasha Cloud’s Jaw-dropping Two-way Performance On Saturday
Natasha Cloud delivered an exceptionally phenomenal two-way performance as the point guard for the New York Liberty this Saturday. Back-to-back three-point plays in the fourth quarter were the main highlight of her game, which provided Liberty with much-needed momentum. Her performance successfully lifted the New York Liberty past the Las Vegas Aces 92-78 in their 2025 opener. Her performance received a standing ovation from the Barclays Center crowd of 17,344. This can definitely be considered as her welcoming moment to New York.
What Did Natasha Cloud Say About Her Experience With The Crowd?
Natasha Cloud, while talking about her experience with the crowd, mentioned how when she came out in the next huddle, her teammate asked her how she liked the crowd. To this, Natasha Cloud mentioned that she thought they were going to charge the court the way they were screaming. She mentioned that her experience with the crowd during her debut with the New York Liberty was definitely electrifying. Natasha became the fourth player with 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in a team debut in the history of the WNBA. She also became the first player to have a 26-6-9 stat line.
What Did Becky Hammon Say About Natasha Cloud’s Performance?
Becky Hammon, who’s the coach of the Las Vegas Aces, mentioned how she thought Natasha Cloud was relentless. She further added how she plays ridiculously hard and is also in pretty great shape. Becky also stated that Natasha knows who she is and never gets outside of that. She also mentioned how she turned the corner on Aces’ defense, and how she’s pretty disruptive. Liberty led the game by 17 in the second period and secured a total of 56 points in the paint. The team that was defending their champion title also assisted 27 of their 35 made baskets. They managed to score 28 and 29 points in the second and fourth quarters as well. The Liberty-Ace rivalry, which has been going on for the last three seasons, has definitely intensified after the match on Saturday.
What Did Natasha Cloud’s Teammate Say About Her Performance?
Breanna Stewart, Cloud’s teammate, also praised her performance during her debut game on Saturday. She mentioned how her versatility, as well as her ability to get downhill and attack the rim, puts her in great spots. It allowed her to successfully read the defense and just be everywhere, pressuring. Stewart also mentioned how unselfish Natasha actually is and knows when to find her teammates. She also mentioned how she knows exactly when to call her own number and use the length and the size that she has to really dictate what she wants offensively.
How Did The Other Star Newcomers Perform During The Saturday Game?
Natasha Cloud was definitely not the only one who debuted during the Saturday game. Jewell Loyd was also one of the star newcomers who debuted on the floor at Barclays. However, her debut was not as impactful as Natasha’s, and she secured five points on 2-for-10 shooting. Aces’ coach mentioned how displeased she was to see the poor ball movement of her team, along with player movement on offense. A’ja Wilson, Jewell’s teammate, mentioned how Jewell wasn’t happy with herself, and she had to constantly remind her about who she is and how she trusts every shot Jewell makes.
