Natasha Cloud
No. 9 – Washington Mystics | |
---|---|
Position | Guard |
League | WNBA |
Personal information | |
Born | Broomall, Pennsylvania | February 22, 1992
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
Listed weight | 160 lb (73 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Cardinal O'Hara (Springfield, Pennsylvania) |
College |
|
WNBA draft | 2015 / Round: 2 / Pick: 15th overall |
Selected by the Washington Mystics | |
Playing career | 2015–present |
Career history | |
2015–present | Washington Mystics |
2015–2016 | Beşiktaş |
2016–present | Townsville Fire |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Natasha Cloud (born February 22, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).[1]
High school[]
Natasha Cloud gained recognition while being named AAAA First Team All-State as a senior. During this season she averaged 12.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 4.0 steals per game.[2] She led Cardinal O'Hara to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class AAAA state finals two years in a row, as a junior and then to the second round as a senior. Both her junior and senior year she earned First Team All-Delco honors. As a junior, earned a Pennsylvania AAAA Third Team All-State selection. Earned the Michael Menichini Award in 2009[3]
College[]
University of Maryland[]
2010–2011: Following a very successful high school career, Natasha Cloud, received a scholarship to play at the University of Maryland as a Terp. Cloud saw action in 31 of 32 games of her freshman year, and of those started games four through nine.[4]
Her freshman year she led the team in assists twice and in blocks three times while also being named a teams Scholar Athlete.[5]
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.[6]
Saint Joseph's University[]
2011–2012: Due to NCAA transfer rules, Cloud sat out the 2011–2012 season, after transferring from Maryland. She was honored as member of the SJU Director's Honor Roll this season.[7]
2012–2013: Cloud earned Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year, along with earning a spot on the A10 all defensive team.[8] In preseason, Cloud was named A10 Preseason All-Conference Second Team and Preseason All-Defensive Team. With an impressive All- Big 5 First Team, Cloud was also named Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team.[9] Earned SJU's Best Defensive Player Award and was twice named A10 Player of the Week and one time Big 5 Player of the week. Cloud was named to the Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List for the top point guard in the nation. Cloud was named Co-Captain to the team. Ranked second nationally in assists per game (7.6), also set the SJU single-season record for assists (243). Averaged 11.5 points and (team best) 6.6 rebounds per game.[10] Led the A10 in assists and assists to turnover ratio. Scored 13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, two blocked shots and 2 steals in NCAA First Round win over Georgia. She had 6 assists and added 10 points, a blocked shot and a steal in NCAA Second Round game against Connecticut, who ended up winning the National Championship.[11]
2014–2015: Cloud averaged 12.9 points a game and led the Atlantic 10 in averaged minutes (37.6).[12] Cloud was named Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team and All- Defensive Team selection. Cloud was a finalist for the Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List and Naismith Trophy Watch List nominee. Named Big 5 Player of the Week three times.[13] Cloud was named Hawk Classic All-Tournament Team member and Seton Hall Thanksgiving Invitational All-Tournament team honoree. Cloud was also Preseason A10 All-Conference First Team and All-Defensive Team selection.[14] With an impressive 187 assists, Cloud led the A10 in assists in a single season and finished her career with 163 rebounds and 50 steals. Cloud also finished with 26 three-pointers, a career best. Scored career-high 29 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot at Liberty.[15]
Maryland and Saint Joseph's statistics[]
Source[16]
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Year | Team | GP | Points | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010-11 | Maryland | 31 | 76 | 37.9% | 26.3% | 69.2% | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 2.5 |
2011-12 | Saint Joseph's | redshirt | |||||||||
2012-13 | Saint Joseph's | 32 | 293 | 38.9% | 14.8% | 73.6% | 4.6 | 4.4 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 9.2 |
2013-14 | Saint Joseph's | 32 | 368 | 39.2% | 27.4% | 71.7% | 6.6 | 7.6 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 11.5 |
2014-15 | Saint Joseph's | 30 | 388 | 36.8% | 35.1% | 79.1% | 5.9 | 6.6 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 12.9 |
Career | 125 | 1125 | 38.2% | 28.6% | 74.4% | 4.6 | 5.2 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 9.0 |
Professional career[]
WNBA[]
Cloud was drafted in the 2015 WNBA draft, second round, 15th overall.[17] Cloud was drafted to play for the Washington Mystics under Coach Mike Thibault. During Cloud's 2015 Rookie season, she averaged 3.6 points per game finishing the season with a total of 123.[18] Just as a rookie, Cloud started in a handful of their season games and played a total of 657 minutes, averaging 19.3 minutes per game.[19] Cloud averaged 2.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists per game.[20]
Cloud scored 11 points in an 84–67 win against San Antonio Stars on June 29, 2016. However, the Mystics have been inconsistent in the 2016 season.[21]
She suffered a left hip injury during practice at the Verizon Center.[22]
On October 10, 2019, Cloud won her first WNBA championship.[23]
In June 2020, Cloud announced that she would forgo the 2020 WNBA season due to concerns of racism and the coronavirus[24]She wanted to be on the front lines and focus on social reform.
Beskitas CT[]
Cloud played in Istanbul, Turkey for an organization called Besiktas CT Istanbul. Cloud was involved with the organization for a few months (participating in a handful of games) before getting hurt and returning to the United States to get healthy for the 2016 WNBA season.
Personal life[]
Cloud is married to professional softball player Aleshia Ocasio.[25][26]
References[]
- ^ Natasha Cloud Makes Washington Mystics' Roster - Saint Joseph's University - Official Athletic Site
- ^ "Natasha Cloud Biography". sjuhawks.com. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
- ^ "Natasha Cloud Biography". sjuhawks.com. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
- ^ "Natasha Cloud Biography". umterps.com. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
- ^ "Natasha Cloud Biography". umterps.com. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
- ^ "Natasha Cloud Biography". umterps.com. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
- ^ "Natasha Cloud Biography". sjuhawks.com. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
- ^ "Natasha Cloud Biography". sjuhawks.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
- ^ "Natasha Cloud Biography". sjuhawks.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
- ^ "Natasha Cloud Biography". sjuhawks.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
- ^ "Natasha Cloud Biography". sjuhawks.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
- ^ "Natasha Cloud Biography". sjuhawks.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
- ^ "Natasha Cloud Biography". sjuhawks.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
- ^ "Natasha Cloud Biography". sjuhawks.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
- ^ "Natasha Cloud Biography". sjuhawks.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
- ^ "NCAA Statistics". web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
- ^ "Natasha Cloud - WNBA". WNBA. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
- ^ "Natasha Cloud - WNBA". WNBA. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
- ^ "Natasha Cloud - WNBA". WNBA. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
- ^ "Natasha Cloud - WNBA". WNBA. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
- ^ "Cloud scores 11 points in a 84-67 win against San Antonio Stars". WNBA.com. June 29, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
- ^ Lee, Albert. "Natasha Cloud injures knee". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "2019 Season Review: Washington Mystics". WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
- ^ "WNBA 2020 season: Jonquel Jones, Liz Cambage, Tina Charles among players sitting out". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
- ^ "Natasha Cloud is engaged!". SBNation. Jul 28, 2019.
- ^ Reimer, Alex (March 11, 2021). "Natasha Cloud and Aleshia Ocasio got married". outsports.com. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
External links[]
- 1992 births
- Living people
- American expatriate basketball people in Turkey
- American women's basketball players
- Basketball players from Pennsylvania
- Beşiktaş women's basketball players
- Guards (basketball)
- LGBT basketball players
- Maryland Terrapins women's basketball players
- People from Marple Township, Pennsylvania
- Saint Joseph's Hawks women's basketball players
- Washington Mystics draft picks
- Washington Mystics players