Veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot is the oldest player on the Chicago Sky roster, and fellow guard Natasha Cloud knows the kind of respect Vandersloot commands. The two-time WNBA Champion is also a five-time All-Star, and Cloud would not idly stand by as someone disrespects her teammate. She proved this during the Sky’s visit to Dallas on Sunday.
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Things got a little heated when the Chicago Sky visited the Dallas Wings, as Cloud was involved in an animated courtside exchange with a fan during the fourth quarter. Cloud addressed the incident in the postgame availability.
“There were a lot of things said about Slooty. This is one of the top point guards that’s ever played in this league. You’re talking about Top-5 in assists and someone that has led this organization to a championship,” she said as per Chicago State of Mind Sports.
In the video, Cloud is seen complaining to the on-court referee as she stands agitated near the Chicago bench. Apparently, a fan was heckling Vandersloot, prompting Cloud to respond on her behalf.
Cloud’s defense of Vandersloot was warranted. Vandersloot has just made her way back from an ACL injury. The 11-year veteran, who won a championship with the Sky, deserves respect. Cloud has been very vocal about her support and went on to talk about the fans, according to the Dallas Hoops Journal.
“Imagine me coming to your job and calling you trash. I love fans, I engage with every fan base, home or away, but I’m not going to tolerate disrespectful stuff. I hope fans hear that and understand it.”
It’s quite natural for the team to protect a player who has been an integral part of the franchise for so long. And with the current season they’re having, it’s not hard to see why emotions are running high.
It has been an underwhelming season for the Sky so far. On paper, they have a very balanced squad, with considerable veteran experience from Vandersloot, Skylar Diggins and Natasha Cloud. But it has not translated into results, as they sit in 13th place in the league with a 7-16 record. They have won only three of their last 13 games.
Center Kamilla Cardoso’s impressive display this season has been the saving grace for this Sky team. She is leading the team in scoring, rebounding, and blocks. Her presence is vital for the team’s offense and defense, averaging 14.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. But this team’s problems run far deeper than to be solved by just one player’s display.
The Sky’s on-court misery has been compounded by their off-court struggles. Diggins was recently involved in a controversy. She spoke against the management’s decision to bench her, having started all 19 games she had played till that point. Diggins posted on Instagram on July 6.
“Now I’m coming off the bench?????? Cool.”
Since then, she has dialed it down and has shown support for the head coach, Tyler Marsh. But all this does point to some deep-rooted issues within this Chicago team. And this is nothing new for them.
The Chicago Sky Have A History Of Disgruntled Player Exits
In recent years, the franchise has struggled to retain marquee talent. Marina Mabrey, Angel Reese, Elena Delle Donne, and Kahleah Copper are some of the high-profile names that ultimately decided to move on from the Chicago Sky.
The players who have exited have publicly voiced frustrations with the front office and the team management.
While Natasha Cloud and Co.’s defense of Vandersloot shows team bonding, the Sky need to urgently iron out their roster and chemistry issues to salvage this season.
The upcoming All-Star break will give them a chance to take a breather and come back fresh and aim for better results in the following weeks.