Natasha Cloud
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Natasha Cloud has come a long way. When she came into the WNBA, she was primarily known as a defender, and now she’s one of the premier passers in the league. She’s also made a lot of improvements in her shooting.

She has been in the league for eight seasons but played seven since she sat out the Wubble in 2020 to continue the fight for social justice reform. Cloud has been one of the most outspoken players in the league, whether it be police brutality, gun violence, racism, or wanting to be heard as a bisexual woman.

She’s been one of the best PEOPLE in the league for years, but she’s becoming one of the best guards in the league too. Her playmaking has consistently improved in the last four seasons, going from 4.6 to 7.1 assists per game, gradually improving each year. This year she’s leading the league in assists with 7.1 per game and averaging 10.8 points per game. Those are both career-highs.

She isn’t shooting a great percentage from the three-point line, but she’s taking more challenging shots than in past seasons, where they were mostly catch-and-shoot. Her most made in a season is 2019, where she made 45. She’s already made 30, with 12 games left to play, so she is on pace to pass that mark.

A very underrated component of her game is her competitiveness. She will go 100% every night, no matter who is playing with or against her. The last few seasons have been rough for the Mystics in terms of health. In the seasons she’s played since 2019, she’s probably been the most durable. That availability is so important, especially for your point guard.

Natasha Cloud has improved every year and probably should’ve been an all-star this year. When you lead the league in assists over players like Courtney Vandersloot, Sabrina Ionescu, and Chelsea Gray, you deserve the same recognition they are receiving.

That’s not to discount those women because they deserve the acknowledgment, but so does Cloud. Oh, and her pre-game fits and in-game shoes are always tough.