Chicago Sky Signs Natasha Cloud To $555K Deal Ending Her Long Free Agency Holdout

The 2026 free agency saw many shocking moves as players chose their convenience and winning probability, deciding on their destination for the season. Nneka Ogwumike’s move to the Los Angeles Sparks and Satou Sabally’s move to the New York Liberty are top examples of these title-chasing moves. Amid this, Natasha Cloud made headlines as the 33-year-old guard remained an unrestricted free agent despite having a strong resume.

The former Lynx guard, Natisha Hiedeman, also lashed out at the franchises for leaving a player of Cloud’s quality in free agency. But the Chicago Sky now made a move and added the star guard to their lineup.

Chicago Sky Signs Free Agent Natasha Cloud To $555K Deal

After Reese’s trade, the Chicago Sky remained active on the market and added many veteran and championship-caliber players to the roster. While fans slammed the Sky franchise’s moves to strengthen the roster after the franchise superstar’s departure, the front office made another powerful addition to the lineup.

As confirmed by the franchise, the Sky team agreed to a $555K deal for the former champion. The franchise announced the signing with the ‘Adding cloud to the Sky’ line.

adding a cloud to our sky ☁️

welcome to the Chi, Tash! pic.twitter.com/tr7LrkH5ZL

— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) May 4, 2026

There were rumors that Cloud would remain unsinged for the season, but the Sky franchise made the deal official right after a surprise waiver of Hailey Van Lith.

---

The team will play its season opener on Friday against the expansion team Portland Fire, and the former Mystics guard could be part of the lineup coming off the bench. But over the season, the player could be a huge addition for the Windy City franchise.

Natasha Cloud To Make Massive Impact On Chicago Sky

The Chicago Sky’s signing of a 10-year veteran brings immediate defensive grit and elite playmaking to a rebuilding roster, signalling a shift toward experience and accountability. As a 2019 WNBA champion provides a vocal, veteran presence needed to mentor young players following the team’s recent roster overhaul.

With the Washington Mystics the resume of Natasha Cloud has flourished over the years.

As an unrestricted free agent do you see @T_Cloud4 returning to the District or finding a new home 🤔#WNBAFreeAgency pic.twitter.com/xNsfbDVF6Z

— WNBA (@WNBA) January 31, 2024

The former All-Defensive Team member is also famous for her pass-first approach. She is expected to act as the primary floor general, running the offense and stabilizing the backcourt, filling a void left by previous playmakers.

Her ability to guard multiple positions and apply high-pressure defense immediately raises the Sky’s defensive ceiling, offering a “tone-setter” for a team seeking to improve its 10-34 record from the previous season. While not a high-volume shooter, her ability to create for others and high basketball IQ make her a pivotal acquisition to change the team’s culture on and off the court.