COLLEGE PARK, GA ― Aneesah Morrow knew her second year in the WNBA would be different.
“It takes a lot of sacrifice when you wanna become successful and great, and this offseason, I spent a lot of time in the gym,” the Connecticut Sun forward told USA TODAY Sports.
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“I feel like I needed that throughout this summer, and (my family) just being there to support me throughout the process while I’m in the gym and the sacrifices that I was taking — I feel like right now I’m just super light, just focused on basketball. And I have the greatest support system ever.”
During her senior season with the LSU Tigers, Morrow won the Katrina McClain award, given annually to the nation’s best women’s basketball power forward. The 6-foot-1 forward finished her final year of college basketball leading the nation in rebounds (13.5 rpg) and double-doubles (30). Morrow was also the Tigers’ leading scorer (18.7 ppg).
Her production helped her climb into the first round of the 2025 WNBA Draft, where the Sun selected her with the seventh overall pick. Morrow started 23 games her rookie season, but she didn’t have the output to which she’d become accustomed. The Chicago native averaged 7.7 points per matchup and 6.9 rebounds. She also shot 37.5% from the field, a departure from the 47% she averaged in college.
“When you come into your rookie season, you’re trying to make your mark, but I don’t think it’s as easy as people make it seem. So I think, coming in the second year, after you have a year under your belt. It’s easy to be like, ‘OK, I wanna do better than I did last season. I wanna prove myself even more,'” Morrow’s Connecticut teammate, Saniya Rivers, told USA TODAY Sports.
In the offseason, Morrow went to work. In addition to the training she’d already planned, she spent time playing in Athletes Unlimited (AU), a professional women’s basketball league, where 40 players compete in an individualized points-based format. During the four-week league, the Sun forward finished with eight double-doubles and ranked second in the overall points system.
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“She’s just a hard worker,” Atlanta Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao said ahead of a June 2 matchup against the Sun. Paopao played with Morrow at AU and against her in college during numerous South Carolina and LSU battles.
“She’s gonna get in the paint, get the rebound, and no matter what, she’s gonna get that ball.”
Morrow says her hard-working mentality was instilled early by her parents, Edward and Nafeesah Morrow. Edward Morrow played football at Nebraska, where he was a member of the Cornhuskers’ 1994 national championship team. Nafeesah Morrow was a women’s basketball athlete who, in 1993, helped lift Nebraska to the first NCAA Tournament win in school history.
Morrow said the concepts of discipline and sacrifice were instilled in her growing up. As she was able to spend more time with her parents and family in the offseason ― something she didn’t get to as much of in college ― she applied those same principles to the work she put in for the 2026 season.
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The difference in Morrow from Year 1 to Year 2 is noticeable. She has career highs in multiple categories, including points (12.7 ppg), rebounds (10.4 rpg) and field goal % (43.2). The second-year pro currently leads the WNBA in double-doubles (eight) and is ranked fourth in rebounds per matchup. Morrow’s significant leap in development was on full display during the Sun’s June 2 game against the Dream.
By halftime, Morrow had 11 points and eight rebounds. The 23-year-old, who was often matched up against veterans, showed zero fear as she pulled up, jab-stepped or drove to the lane to get the shots she wanted. She also crashed the glass early, elevating far above most players on the court. Morrow says rebounding gives her momentum.
“I just know that I gotta go up in there, and I gotta work hard. That’s as simple as it is,” Morrow said. “Rebounding is sacrifice, and it’s unselfish.”
Jun 2, 2026; College Park, Georgia, USA; Connecticut Sun forward Aneesah Morrow (24) grabs a rebound against the Atlanta Dream in the first quarter at Gateway Center Arena at College Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The sacrifice Morrow made by spending the offseason to focusing on basketball has also translated to connections within her team.
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Morrow said her Sun teammates have poured into her as the season has gone on, and it’s helped her in ways she perhaps was not expecting. Ahead of the 2026 season, Connecticut signed 2014 WNBA champion and 10-time All-Star Brittney Griner. Morrow says having Griner on the team has been a “breath of fresh air.”
“(Griner’s) a great leader. She’s a great role model when it comes down to just being on the floor and just being able to accomplish a lot of things, too,” Morrow said. “Also, she is very open to receiving criticism from her young rookies as well. So I appreciate her for that because I wanna hold her accountable the same way she holds me accountable.”
Rivers, who was drafted one pick behind Morrow in 2025, gushed about her Sun teammate when asked by USA TODAY to talk about her “favorite topic.” The Connecticut guard says she and Morrow have grown closer this year, often spending time watching TV together, grabbing food or making TikTiks. Rivers says she is proud of Morrow’s accomplishments and “blessed” to call her a friend.
“Once (Aneesah) muted the noise in the outside world, I think it was easier for her to make a shift on the basketball court,” Rivers said.
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“She made basketball a priority for herself. I think everybody does (the) same thing. You put things over things that probably aren’t the most important, and I think it forces you to not perform well in areas that you need to. So I think her confidence has just grown by prioritizing what she needs to prioritize, to put (it in) simple terms.”
On Friday, Morrow continues her ascension towards becoming the best player she can during her sophomore season. Connecticut travels to play the Chicago Sky at the United Center (7:30 p.m. ET, ION).
The Sun forward and her team look to get back in the win column following their 91-75 loss to Atlanta. Morrow will also attempt to add to her league-leading double-double streak. With her gritty, timely baskets and hair flowing as she snatches rebounds, Morrow shouldn’t be hard to spot.
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“She’s relentless. She goes every time. She doesn’t pick and choose,” Dream coach Karl Smesko said of Morrow. “She is going every time, and you have to put a body on her.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Inside Aneesah Morrow’s Year 2 leap with the Connecticut Sun
