Natasha Cloud wins WNBA All-Star Skills Challenge — and promises her partner a house
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA. tRY IT NOW
INDIANAPOLIS — Natasha Cloud was crowned this year's WNBA All-Star Skills Challenge champion Friday and promised her Liberty teammate and partner a house.
Cloud bested a field of five in the first round after clocking in at 34.1 seconds.
In the finals, she beat Erica Wheeler by 1.1 seconds to win the $55,000 prize.
Wheeler was the first player to congratulate Cloud. Sabrina Ionescu — who ran down the sideline — was the second as she engulfed her in a tight hug.
3 New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud receives her trophy from WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert during the 2025 WNBA All-Star Skills Challenge at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Before the competition, Isabelle Harrison told Cloud she needed to win so they could put a down payment on a house.
After being presented the glass pillar-like trophy, Cloud gushed about Harrison and how safe they feel playing in New York. She also told Harrison, 'You're gonna get that house.'
Cloud also gave a shoutout to her parents, who couldn't make the trip to Indianapolis to watch her.
'Mom and dad, I love you all so much,' she said. 'This is for y'all. This award should've came a long time ago, but I got you 10 years in.'
3 New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud celebrates winning with girlfriend and teammate Isabelle Harrison during the 2025 WNBA All Star Skills Challenge at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
3 New York Liberty guard Natasha Cloud competes in the final round during the 2025 WNBA All Star Skills Challenge at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Cloud has never been named an All-Star, but she viewed participating in this year's skills challenge — which features an obstacle course that tests a player's passing precision and shooting — as a way to get her foot in the door.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Howard, Boston lead Fever to fifth straight win without Clark, 78-74 over Storm
SEATTLE (AP) — Natasha Howard scored 21 points and the Indiana Fever, playing without Caitlin Clark for a seventh straight game, beat the Seattle Storm 78-74 on Sunday to extend their winning streak to five. Aliyah Boston had 16 points and 12 rebounds. Her run of nine straight Indiana points in the middle of the fourth quarter put the Fever up 73-61 with 4:41 to play. The Storm charged back, pulling within 73-72 on a three-point play by Skylar Diggins with 3:14 to go. Kelsey Mitchell made a short jumper for Indiana before the Storm missed their next five shots, including four 3-pointers on one possession before Dominique Malonga scored inside with 12.2 seconds left. On the ensuing inbounds play, Lexie Hull got the ball to Mitchell for a layup with 8.1 to go and the Storm couldn't hit a tying 3 before Boston's free throw. Sophie Cunningham added 17 points for the Fever (17-12), who are now 9-7 in games Clark missed. Nneka Ogwumike scored 16 points for the Storm (16-13), who dropped their second straight at home. Diggins added 13 points and Gabby Williams and Malonga both had 12. Seattle lost to Los Angeles 108-106 in two overtimes on Friday night. Indiana led 19-16 after one quarter and had an 8-0 surge late in the second to lead by 10 before Seattle scored to make it 42-34 at the half. The Fever went up 55-42 on Cunningham's 3-pointer midway through the third quarter but the Storm closed on a 10-2 run to cut the deficit to 58-54 entering the fourth. Indiana didn't have a field goal over the last 4 1/2 minutes. Olympic gold medal gymnast Jordan Chiles was courtside for the game, which drew 16,819 fans. ___ AP WNBA:
Boston Globe
23 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Roman Anthony's double off Framber Valdez just another step in rookie's growth as a hitter
Anthony's double ignited a six-run inning for the Sox, which proved to be the difference in a 'I think just the more I'm in there every day, and the more lefties I see, the more comfortable I feel,' Anthony said. 'I think I've done a pretty good job of learning how to game plan more and more against those guys every day. So it's just a matter of getting in there every day and getting more at bats.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Anthony's growing comfort against lefties has been evident in his production: Before the All-Star break, Anthony hit .243 with a .606 OPS and 15 strikeouts in 39 plate appearances against lefties. Advertisement Roman Anthony (right) scores to tie the game in the fourth inning of the Red Sox' 6-1 win Sunday to complete a three-game sweep of the Astros. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff But in 24 plate appearances against lefties since the All-Star break, Anthony is batting .300 with a .750 OPS and eight strikeouts. 'He's able to do it,' said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. 'Just wait on pitches and hit it off the wall. The patience is there, and now you can see it — he's able to go the other way against lefties.' Advertisement Anthony actually had reverse splits in the minor leagues, notching a .955 OPS against lefthanders and .879 against righthanders in 58 games this season with Triple A Worcester. But in the weeks following Anthony's June 9 call up, Cora opted to sit Anthony against some lefty starters, and also pinch hit for him once against a lefthanded reliever. However, by the last week in June, Anthony had ascended into a full-time role against lefties. And when Masataka Yoshida returned on July 9 and created a logjam in the outfield, Cora made it clear: Anthony would be in the lineup virtually every day, regardless of the opponent or who else would need to sit as a result. 'The more you're in there, the better you feel on a day-to-day basis, and the more comfortable you feel as you see more of those lefties,' Anthony said. 'And credit to [Cora] for putting me in there and continuing to trust me against both sides.' Anthony has started all but one game since the All-Star break, logging starts in right field on days Wilyer Abreu is out of the lineup, and starting in left field on days when Jarren Duran either plays in center field or sits. Related : In one of the signature moments so far in his Sox career, Anthony laced a Anthony's rapid progression in tough left-on-left matchups has not gone unnoticed by the Sox' veterans, who understand just how hard the adjustment is for any player — let alone a 21-year-old. Advertisement 'He just has that belief in himself,' Story said. 'You can see how he handled one of the best lefties in the game [in Valdez on Sunday]. It's a really tough matchup, and he had some good at-bats, hit the double off the wall. That's just stuff you don't really see from young players.' One remaining area for refinement is Anthony's 67.7 percent ground ball rate against lefties, which leads the league among players with at least 50 at-bats. However, that number has similarly mirrored Anthony's other recent positive trends against lefties, with a 72.7 percent mark prior to the All-Star break and 58.3 percent since. And like every other facet of Anthony's game, there's every reason to believe he will continue to build in a positive direction — and do so quickly. 'I'm just focused on game planning and executing each and every day, and trying to get on base and help the team,' Anthony said. 'That's all I know how to do. Everything else will clean up and handle itself.' Matty Wasserman can be reached at
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Jones has 23 points, Gray 22 and the Dream pull away from the Mystics 99-83
COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (AP) — Brionna Jones scored 23 points, Allisha Gray added 22 and the Atlanta Dream overcame a slow start to pull away from the Washington Mystics 99-83 on Sunday. The Dream missed their first six shots and fell behind 10-0 but dominated the middle two quarters, outscoring the Mystics 59-37. They shot 56% after going 3 of 13 in the first quarter. Naz Hillmon had 14 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Jordan Canada finished with 16 points and nine assists for the Dream (18-11), who won their third straight and set a season high for points in the second straight game. Kiki Irafen scored 22 points for the Mystics (13-15), Sonia Citron and Shakira Austin both added 16 and Sug Sutton had 13. Washington has lost two straight and five of seven to drop into ninth place. Washington led 23-12 after one quarter. Then Atlanta made 11 of 19 shots and forced nine turnovers in the second quarter to go in front 40-39 at the half. The Dream closed the half with a 17-4 run, fueled by their defense. They forced 16 turnovers for 21 points in the first half and Gray had 12 points. Jones scored 14 points and Atlanta made 13 of 20 shots in the third quarter, adding 10 more points off Washington turnovers and led by many as 13. The Dream went into the fourth quarter up 71-60. Atlanta converted 22 turnovers into 33 points. ___ AP WNBA:
