The Phoenix Mercury played their most recent game against the New York Liberty on Thursday. While the Liberty had the last laugh as they trumped the Mercury by an 81-76 tally, one player that stood out and won all hearts was the Mercury’s guard Natasha Cloud. Coming from a conflicted family, Cloud proved that despite going through trials and tribulations she can perform exceptionally well at the highest level.

Cloud basketed the team’s highest 21 points and was only behind the veteran Sabrina Ionescu in terms of scoring. While her performance was a front-page headline, not much is known about her. As an individual, Cloud is an advocate of equal rights for all communities and has had to pay the price for her unflinching resolve in humanity.

Natasha Cloud’s stepfather loves her more than anyone else

Much like her on-court life, her personal life is also a story with lots of twists and turns. For starters, Cloud’s father was a man of color with whom her mother had a relationship during tough times in her marriage. While not much is known about her biological father, Emil is her mother Sharon Cloud’s current husband. Sharon Cloud and Emil reconciled after they learned that the former was pregnant. Thus, Cloud was born on February 22, 1992 Broomall, Pennsylvania.

At the age of 18, Sharon and Emil revealed Cloud’s real identity to her and how he was not the biological father. But that did not change anything in their relationship. “I had everything I needed. A father who loves me, who guided me through life—so there was no reason to go look for someone who didn’t want me,” Cloud remarked on the issue as per Washingtonian.

In the backdrop of this personal turmoil, Cloud grew to be a vocal and strong kid. Maybe, it was these challenges that provided her the impetus to take a stand for different communities and her compassion looks to foster an inclusive environment for people from different backdrops. As for her professional life, Cloud accepted a scholarship for the Maryland Terrapins after high school in 2010, but could not stay long with them.

Natasha Cloud’s professional life is an extension of her personal choices

Though Cloud is a woman of color, she hasn’t explored the culture much. And at the Terrapins, she was mostly surrounded by people of color. Hence, she was at a crossroads where she didn’t have much connection with her white upbringing and also didn’t blend in with the black culture. Thus, after the end of her freshman year, Cloud transferred to St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

At St. Joseph’s, Cloud took a redshift in her sophomore year. In 2012-13 she played 32 games and averaged a decent 9.2 points per match. This was far better than her average at Maryland. And in the subsequent years, this average only improved, reaching 12.9 in her final year. And then she was drafted as the fifteenth overall pick in the second round by the Washington Mystics in 2015.

And in 2024, she earned herself a place in the Phoenix Mercury lineup. However, her personal life is not as smooth sailing as it looks, Cloud had to pay the price of her choices since as per reports, her activism has created a rift between her and her elder brother Eric. Both support different political parties and have dissimilar opinions on different subjects. The two have had irreconcilable differences between them. Nonetheless, Cloud continues to fight for what she believes in and sticks to her morality. And she finds the necessary solace and support in softball player Aleshia Ocasio.

Natasha Cloud finds strength and peace in her relationship

Cloud and Ocasio had a love at first sight relation, at least from Cloud’s side. Cloud saw Ocasi0 pitching a ball during the College World Series and fell for her. In order to connect with Ocasio she went online to the social media platform Instagram and started liking her pictures in bulk. While Ocasio didn’t make a move in the first instance, soon she knew what was in store for her.

Cloud then also came out in front of family and friends and as per her it was “transformational”. “For me, it was so transformational to finally be out as who I am as a bisexual woman, as a biracial woman,” she said as per Them.

The two started dating soon and in 2019 Cloud proposed to Ocasio in Florida. The duo then got married surrounded by their friends and family. While both stars mostly spend their time plying their trade whatever limited amount they get during the off-season, the two spend it together. It is said that Cloud knew of their long-term togetherness when the two had just started talking.

Cloud’s personal life is real and conflicted, yet she takes steps every day for what she believes in both in her professional and personal sphere. Supported by Ocasio, she every day climbs steps of hope and blissfulness and hopefully, fans will be able to see more of her exceptional performances as she decides to take steps for collective conscience values.