Ex-WNBA Champion Got Betrayed by Phoenix Mercury and Admits Loyalty for WNBA Franchises Is “Hard”

Loyalty in sports? It’s a myth—just ask Luka Dončić. One minute, he’s the heart of the Dallas Mavericks, the next, he’s packing for Hollywood. It’s a tough pill to swallow for athletes who thought they were untouchable. In today’s league, no one is safe—just look at Dončić’s stunning move to the Lakers. Without a no-trade clause like LeBron’s, your future’s always on the line. And the chaos isn’t just in the NBA; the WNBA’s got its own shake-ups to keep you on edge.

When former WNBA champion Natasha Cloud was asked about her trade to Connecticut following a tough loss to Napheesa Collier, she didn’t hold back. “The last few weeks have been a whirlwind,” she said, adding, “If this isn’t proof enough of the business side of professional sports, I don’t know what is. It’s hard to stay loyal when you’re just moved around like a piece on a chessboard. Uprooting my family to the West Coast, being told I’d retire a Phoenix Mercury, and then finding out about the trade through social media—well, that was a real eye-opener for me.”

Cloud, fresh off a standout 2024 season with the Mercury, is heading to the Sun. The 5-10 point guard posted 11.5 points, 4.1 boards, 6.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, setting a new franchise record with 263 assists.


Her All-Defensive Second Team nods and ranking third in assists solidified her place as one of the league’s best. Before Phoenix, Cloud played eight seasons with the Washington Mystics, where she helped deliver the franchise’s first-ever WNBA title in 2019. Despite cementing her legacy as a top-tier playmaker and defensive powerhouse, Cloud’s dream of finishing her career in Phoenix was shattered by the brutal reality of the business side of the sport.

Cloud’s frustration highlights the cold reality of Phoenix Mercury’s trades

Hence Cloud’s frustration was understandable. After an All-Star season, she believed she’d retire with Phoenix. Instead, she got the harsh news of her trade —no heads-up, no personal conversation, just the cold news through social media.

via Getty

This multi-team blockbuster trade that sent Cloud, Rebecca Allen from Phoenix, and Jacy Sheldon from Dallas to Connecticut, while Phoenix brought in Alyssa Thomas was a part of a four-team trade deal between Connecticut, Dallas, Indiana, and Phoenix.

As a part of the deal, the Dallas Wings received DiJonai Carrington and Ty Harris from Connecticut, along with NaLyssa Smith from Indiana, and the rights to Mikiah Herbert-Harrigan, a No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft from Phoenix, the rights to swap 2026 second-round picks from Connecticut and the rights to swap 2027 third round picks from Indiana.

The Indiana Fever in turn received Sophie Cunningham and a No. 19 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft from Phoenix and Jaelyn Brown from Dallas. The Phoenix Mercury meanwhile got Connecticut standout Alyssa Thomas , along with Satou Sabally, Kalani Brown, and Sevgi Uzun from Dallas.