INDIANAPOLIS — Liberty guard Natasha Cloud was crowned this year’s WNBA All-Star Skills Challenge champion Friday and promised her Liberty teammate and girlfriend a house.
Cloud bested a field of five in the first round after clocking in at 34.1 seconds. In the finals, she beat Erica Wheeler by 1.1 seconds to win the $57,575 prize.
Cloud had wanted to participate in last year’s Skills Challenge in Phoenix, but never received an invite. She was determined to get the call this season.
Cloud said Friday’s win further validated that she’s one of the league’s most skillful guards.
“I’m meant to be here, meant to be on this level,” she said. “I’m confident in who I am, I know who I am, whether I get the flowers or not.”
Before the competition, which features an obstacle course that tests a player’s passing precision and shooting, Isabelle Harrison told Cloud she needed to win so they could put a down payment on a house.
That’s why while other WNBA players spent Thursday night partying, Cloud was tucked away in bed sleeping.
“This was serious for me,” Cloud said. “I came with a goal.”
Immediately after being presented her glass trophy, Cloud gushed about Harrison and how fortunate they are to have landed in New York together.
She also told Harrison she planned to make good on her promise as she announced to the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd, “You’re gonna get that house.”
“We’re really thankful for where our journeys have brought us and our careers brought us and this is just the next step,” Cloud added. “So yeah, this is going to be money well spent.”
Cloud also gave a shoutout to her parents, who couldn’t make the trip to Indianapolis to watch her.
“Mom and dad, I love you all so much,” she said. “This is for y’all. This award should’ve came a long time ago, but I got you 10 years in.”
As Cloud walked out of her post-event press conference, she cuddled her trophy like a baby and said, “This is going to sleep in my bed with me tonight.”
“No, it’s not,” Harrison joshed.
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