Natasha Cloud scored a career-high 26 points for the Washington Mystics (3-1) in their 94-85 win over the New York Liberty (0-4) in White Plains, N.Y. on Friday night. She was SENSATIONAL.
Cloud didn’t just score a career-high in points as the Mystics’ starting shooting guard. She shot 9-of-15 from the field and 3-of-5 from three.
Here's Natasha Cloud's shot chart vs. the Liberty! pic.twitter.com/UKU7lxp7e1
— BF_Mystics (@BF_mystics) June 8, 2019
Cloud also scored 17 of her points in the first half to keep Washington ahead of a persistent New York team that took an early lead in the first quarter. Rebecca Allen scored 13 points off the bench for the Liberty, most of them in them in the first half.
I’m not gonna lie. I thought Cloud was due for a post-max-contract slump in 2019. After all, she shot under 35 percent from the field in each of her first three seasons until Washington’s miracle 2018 one. But maybe I’m wrong. As a fan, I want to be wrong in this case, because I like going with my heart too. So I’m really happy she did well.
Other Mystics players chipped in this one, including Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, who scored 15 points off the bench. She too has brought an extra spark for this team. Elena Delle Donne scored just 13 points. But really, why shoulder ALL the load when Natasha is on CLOUD NINE TO THE NINTH POWER!?
94-85 MYSTICS WIN OVER THE LIBERTY!!!
— BF_Mystics (@BF_mystics) June 8, 2019
OUR STARTING SHOOTING GUARD @T_Cloud4 WENT OFF WITH 26 POINTS AND 8 ASSISTS TO LEAD DC!
FORGET ABOUT ☁️9️⃣.
SHE’S ON ☁️9️⃣ TO THE 9TH!!! (That’s 387,420,489 to be exact. )
YAAAAAAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#TogetherDC #SticsSZN #WNBA #DCFAMILY pic.twitter.com/BfJqNtI8Y6
For the Liberty, Tina Charles led their scorers with 27 points in the loss. And Mystics alum Bria Hartley added 14 points on 4-of-10 shooting. But ultimately, their efforts weren’t enough.
I was worried that Washington would enter into a typical “#SoWizards-esque trap game” situation and the first half confirmed my fears. But Washington turned things around to get a third straight win in the books.
Next Sunday, the Mystics will host the Wings at 3 p.m. at the Entertainment and Sports Arena. Dallas lost to the Fever earlier tonight and are still winless. They are definitely in a rebuilding situation to say the least. Let’s enjoy this win and GET ON TO THE NEXT!