Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb on Sunday publicly backed free agent Natasha Cloud, who remains unsigned a week into WNBA training camps.

Speaking to reporters at his annual preseason press conference, Kolb lauded Cloud for being “a phenomenal teammate” and an “awesome human being.”

“She’s a phenomenal basketball player,” Kolb said. “She belongs in the WNBA.”

The Liberty traded two first-round picks for Cloud last March just weeks after the Mercury dealt the veteran guard to the Sun as part of a four-team trade that brought Satou Sabally to Phoenix.

Cloud’s arrival to New York came on the heels of Courtney Vandersloot leaving in free agency and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton suffering an injury at Unrivaled. Laney-Hamilton ultimately had season-ending knee surgery in March 2025.

Cloud, a 10-year veteran and 2019 WNBA champion, helped the Liberty to a franchise-best 9-0 start.…