EUGENE, Ore. -- The New York Liberty are ready to win another championship after trading for veteran point guard Natasha Cloud. After spending last season with the Phoenix Mercury, she was moved in the offseason to New York in multiple trades. Now in her 10th season and with a new team, she is ready to fill a key position for the Liberty while competing for a championship this year.

During the offseason, Cloud was moved to the Connecticut Sun in a trade involving multiple players, including Alyssa Thomas. She was participating in the newly created 3-vs-3 league, Unrivaled, when she received the unexpected news. Cloud recognized the nature of how the business of the league works, while remaining grateful for being sent to New York.

“I expected to be in Phoenix for two years and fulfill my commitment, and I expected them to fulfill theirs back to me, but that’s not the way the business works sometimes,” Cloud said after the Liberty’s 84-61 win against the Toyota Antelopes. “I’m thankful God placed me where I am now, so I send Him a lot of gratitude for being with (the Liberty).”

Although she expected to remain with the Mercury, Cloud is thankful she ended up in New York to compete for a championship. After being traded to Connecticut, she was traded again to the Liberty in one of their final offseason moves. The possibility of joining New York appealed to Cloud, and she saw them as a great match for herself. She talked about the timing of how everything came to fruition, and how playing for the Liberty allows her to better herself and the team.

“Every time my contract re-upped, (New York) was the only place I was looking (to go to), so this felt like the right timing,” Cloud said. “If I was coming back on the East Coast, I wanted to be where I felt I could add to (the team), but be my best self and compete for championships.”

Adding Cloud feels like a full circle moment as both sides were interested on multiple occasions, so her arrival has been a long time coming. As her 10th season in the league begins, she enters a similar role with a new team. With Cloud becoming the starting point guard for the Liberty, she is critical of herself to excel in her role, but remembers to be patient and stay the course.

“I want to be a lead at every team that I go to, so I put a lot of pressure on myself, but pressure is a privilege, so I’m going to continue to stay the course,” she said. “I just want to add to this already well-oiled machine.”

Even though New York won the championship last season, they always seemed like they could use a veteran point guard like Cloud. Now with her on the team, the Liberty has enough on their team to win back-to-back titles. Although Cloud’s time with the team has been short, she has impressed her teammates and coaches in training camp and the preseason with her energy and leadership. New York Head Coach Sandy Brondello commented on her fit with the team, her leadership, and utilizing her energy this season.

“(Cloud) fits really well,” Brondello said. “I love the energy she brings, and it’s very genuine and authentic. We have a big three, and they are our leaders, but we brought in another leader that’s different to what we have, and we’re going to utilize all the energy she has on and off the court.”

Cloud’s supporting cast of coaches and teammates love the energy she brings both on and off the court, and look forward to capitalizing on her leadership this season. As she transitions from Phoenix to the Liberty, Cloud will be playing with another star shooting guard, Sabrina Ionescu (ee-uh-neh-skoo). After playing with recently retired superstar guard Diana Taurasi (ter-AH-see) last season, she’ll be playing with a younger backcourt teammate this year. She played with Ionescu on Phantom BC in Unrivaled before joining New York, which helped their chemistry. Cloud commented on playing with her new backcourt teammate and how their games coexist.

“We got a nice introduction at Unrivaled, which allowed our chemistry to be what it is now,” Cloud said. “(Ionescu)’s a great player but an even better person off the court. I’m excited to make her life a little bit easier and be able to push her off the ball a little bit more.”

As the Liberty’s new guard tandem continues to gel together this season, they can be a key reason for this team’s success. With a new season tipping off, New York finally has the veteran point guard they need to win another championship.