CHICAGO -- Natasha Cloud was in tears on the phone. A chaotic offseason that included contentious and prolonged collective bargaining between the WNBA and its players resolved abruptly and had given way to a shortened offseason. After the new CBA was agreed upon March 20, the free agency negotiation period began just over two weeks later and the draft was held seven days after that.
Excitement turned to worry, which led to serious concern. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. Shortly before the negotiation period opened, Cloud parted ways with her agent due to different perspectives. And the start of what Cloud described as the "hunger games" loomed -- with nearly every player not on a rookie deal a free agent with millions in new money available.
But the market wasn't exactly what the 34-year-old expected for a former WNBA champion, a player who once led the league in assists and a three-time All-Defensive Team selection who has started every game she has played since 2018. Training camp opened and Cloud was still unsigned. In the midst of it all, former WNBA teammate Izzy Harrison connected Cloud with her agent, Fabio Jardine. And the tears streamed.
Everything bubbled to the surface in that moment as self-doubt overflowed for someone who never seems to lack confidence.
"There was a point where I had my breakdown, my little moment," Cloud told ESPN. "Yeah, I didn't know if I was going to play in the W again.
"It shakes your confidence for a little bit."
Finally, two weeks into training camp, Cloud landed with the Chicago Sky, starting over with her fourth team in as many seasons. After being traded from the Phoenix Mercury and getting just one season with the New York Liberty, her opportunities to win another title appeared to be declining, but Cloud found an unexpected companion in Year 11. The Sky and general manager Jeff Pagliocca were looking to overhaul the roster, including trading away two-time all-star Angel Reese, but had no interest in starting from scratch. Despite the Sky having not posted a winning record since 2022, Pagliocca hoped to compete immediately.
Circumstances brought the two parties together in a time of need for both.
