The Chicago Sky signed veteran point guard Natasha Cloud to a one-year contract on May 4, 2026, ending her extended period as an unsigned free agent.
The 11-year veteran joined the team just days before the regular-season opener to bolster a revamped roster focused on defensive grit.
Cloud remained on the market until late in the free agency period despite averaging 10.1 points and 5.1 assists per game for the 27-win New York Liberty last season.
Her unsigned status sparked widespread online speculation regarding her political activism, though league sources and Liberty officials denied those rumors.
The veteran guard expressed confusion over the lack of communication from her former team during the offseason process.
She noted that the Liberty never extended a return offer, leaving her without a clear explanation before she eventually secured the contract with Chicago.
"I just have extra fuel behind me this year," Cloud told the Tribune.
"This is the place that I feel like is ready to pour gasoline on that — in the best way."
Cloud addressed the public speculation regarding her off-the-court stances during a press conference before the home opener at Wintrust Arena.
She emphasized her commitment to her personal morals and values while acknowledging that her vocal advocacy requires an aligned organization.
"No one's ever going to admit if that was the case," Cloud said Wednesday during a news conference before the Sky's home opener against the Dallas Wings at Wintrust Arena.
"I'm sure there are certain organizations that, yeah, I'm not the player for you.
I will say what I feel on my heart when it comes to my morals and my values.
I am a Christian, so that's what I stand on and I won't shy away from it. So it does take a certain organization.
… When you have that ability (to speak out) not only from your organization, from your front office and ownership, it really does make a difference."
Cloud further explained her humanitarian perspective amid the public reactions to her statements.
She stated that her focus remains on human dignity and peace despite how critics may view her activism.
"Y'all can villainize me all you want, but I just want love and peace.
I want people to be able to live a dignified life, no matter where they came from.
… If I'm villainized for that, I don't think that says a lot about me. I think that's just a lot about the people villainizing me."
The lack of feedback from the New York front office remained a central point of confusion for the championship-winning guard.
She compared the situation to a relationship that ended without closure.
"Your guess is as good as mine," Cloud said. "I still haven't gotten an answer.
… I appreciate all the kind words said about me.
I know who I was for that organization, I know who I was for that community, but I still don't have an answer.
Everyone here has been in a relationship where there's no closure and you just move on. … I'm in this next relationship and I'm loving life."
The free agency period was uniquely compressed into 13 days due to collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
Cloud noted that the resulting financial constraints forced several front offices to make difficult salary cap decisions regarding veteran players.
"My free agency was interesting, to say the least.
It's no surprise that I didn't expect to be where I was," Cloud said Wednesday morning, just hours before the new-look Sky host the Dallas Wings in their home opener.
"Everyone wants me to have an answer. I don't have an answer for why my situation was what it was."
Cloud admitted experiencing a period of significant anxiety during her time on the open market.
She described dealing with the fear of being left out of the league entirely after an 11-year career.
"I feel like I did everything that I needed to do, whether it was as a player, as a person in the community, and sometimes that isn't valued the way that it should be," Cloud said.
"What you do is you pivot.
I'd be lying if there wasn't a span of anxiety and freaking out and being fearful of not being back in the league that I've given 11 years to."
The guard pointed to her internal development during the stressful offseason limbo. She emphasized that she focused on preparation rather than expressing public frustration.
"I think everyone expected me to be 'crash out Tash' and to be blunt and talk my shit as I usually do, but there's growth here," Cloud continued.
"There's growth. I've really worked on who I am as a human being...
It wasn't 'woe me,' it wasn't 'sad me,' it was 'I'm gonna work and when I get that opportunity I'm gonna come in and I'm gonna smack the shit out of everybody.'"
The transition to the Sky organization has been smooth for the defensive specialist.
She reported feeling valued by her new teammates and coaching staff from her first day with the franchise.
"From the moment I was here, I just felt welcomed. I felt valued, I felt wanted, I felt needed," Cloud said.
"That just made the whole transition of me coming in seamless.
Everyone's ability to help me learn the plays on the fly, whether it's our halfcourt offense, defensive principles, schemes, verbage, everyone was just super helpful in everything that I needed."
The Sky have opened their 2026 campaign with a 3-1 record, establishing a highly competitive team identity.
Cloud described the roster as a group of players willing to fight hard every single night.
"We have dogs in here," Cloud said. "Everyone just comes in and plays hard, and I think that's our identity now.
When you come to Chicago, it's gonna be a dogfight every single night and you're really gonna have to work to compete with us."
Cloud credits her new representation, Fabio Jardine and First Pick Management, with resolving her free agency crisis after her previous agency released her.
The guard also shared a philosophical view on the delay, attributing it to a higher purpose.
"I think everyone expected me to be 'crash-out Tash' and to be blunt and talk my [stuff] as I usually do, but there's growth here," Cloud said.
"I've really worked on who I am as a human being. I've worked on my water as well as my fire and when to use it."
The motivation gained from the extended wait continues to fuel Cloud's aggressive play style on the court.
She expressed a renewed sense of competitive energy and gratitude for the opportunity.
"So I changed my perspective of it. It wasn't 'woe is me,' it wasn't 'sad me.'
It was, 'I'm going to work, and when I get that opportunity I'm going to come in and smack the [crap] out of everybody — because that's just who I am.'"
Chicago general manager Jeff Pagliocca has completely revamped the team's culture around a blueprint of toughness and grit.
Cloud noted that the organization actively invested in changing its trajectory following consecutive losing seasons.
"I will say Chicago has completely revamped," Cloud said.
"I think they took all the [crap] sh— being said the last few years and they put their money where their mouth is and they invested into this thing completely.
And to be here when it's being revamped is a meaningful feeling."
Despite the lack of closure regarding her departure from New York, Cloud maintained that she harbors no ill will toward her former city.
She noted she is focusing entirely on her current situation.
"Everyone here has been in a relationship where there's no closure and you just move on and you move forward and the next relationship is great," she said.
"I'm in this next relationship and I'm loving life. That doesn't mean I still don't have a lot of love for Brooklyn."
Cloud also highlighted the positive dynamic between seasoned veterans and younger players on the Sky roster.
She rejected the idea of an adversarial relationship between generations in the league.
"As much as I've been with vets, and that's been a blessing to my growth and continuing to sharpen my craft, but now I come into this situation in the latter part of my career, I know I have a lot to give to the game, but I know I have a lot to give to these other players too," Cloud explained pregame to reporters.
"I think a lot of times in this league we can look at vets against younger players, and that's not it.
We're both iron sharpens iron."
The guard pointed to her championship background as a key asset for a roster undergoing major changes.
According to Cloud, winning teams require a collective willingness to sacrifice and overcome adversity.
"There's a level of, with championship experience, comes the mindset of being willing to do whatever it takes to win, and I think that is part of the character that we want… when you're part of championship teams, you understand what sacrifice means and what overcoming adversity means," Cloud said.
Cloud reflected on how she handled the uncertainty of watching other players sign contracts while she remained without a team.
She explained that she chose to view the forced pause as a spiritual mandate to remain still.
"When you put in some of these predicaments, it can bring anxiety and fears and all those things that were really real for me, but also understanding that, for whatever reason, God wanted me to be still for a minute," Cloud explained.
"I feel a lot of gratitude every time I step out on this floor.
A renewed sense of everybody got me f**d up, and I'm ready to play."
Other players in the league also expressed public support for Cloud during her free agency limbo.
Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams and Seattle Storm guard Natisha Hiedeman openly questioned the situation during a live broadcast.
"You know that it ain't got nothing to do with her basketball ability," Williams said. "It gotta be because of the other (stuff)."
The Sky must now navigate their upcoming schedule without star forward Rickea Jackson, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL on May 17.
Cloud's defensive versatility will remain central to Chicago's strategy as the team returns home from its season-opening road trip.
