UNCASVILLE — Connecticut Sun forward Aneesah Morrow doesn’t shy away from the term “undersized,” a label that has followed her for most of her basketball career.
It’s often intended as a criticism, a flaw outside of her control that many expected would make it more difficult for her game to translate to the professional level. But Morrow wears it as a badge of honor, a signature trait that fuels her to outwork the players who have the luxury of bigger physical gifts.
Through the first three weeks of the 2026 WNBA season, 10 forwards have multiple double-doubles with points and rebounds, led by Morrow, with a league-high four in seven games. She also ranks fifth in the league in rebounds per game and 10th on the offensive glass. That level of production is even more impressive because her height is a major outlier among the upper echelon of post players in the league. The other nine with multiple double-doubles have an average height just over 6 feet 4, and none are smaller than 6-3.
“You don’t see someone that’s around my height … grabbing 16 rebounds,” Morrow said. “Let’s just be honest, that’s not something you see on a consistent basis. That’s something that takes a lot of will. It takes a lot of heart to do that, a lot of hard work. I might make it look easy, but it’s hard.”
Morrow, by her own admission, stands closer to 5-11 than the 6-1 she’s listed at on Connecticut’s roster. She doesn’t boast unusual length or remarkable athleticism that could compensate for her height. But the measurable attributes mean little to the Sun forward, who is emerging as a star this season on the basis of pure work ethic, intensity and drive to dominate. Coaches at every level of basketball echo the cliche that rebounding is all about effort, and no player proves that true more than Morrow.
“She’s undersized, but she doesn’t let that determine her game or determine what she’s capable of,” Sun forward Aaliyah Edwards said. “I love that for her, because she just brings that determination, that passion, that drive, just to be relentless with everything she does, and that’s what we need.”
Aneesah Morrow #24 of the Connecticut Sun gets the rebound against NaLyssa Smith #3 of the Las Vegas Aces during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 15, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
The Sun selected Morrow with the No. 7 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, and though she still finished her rookie year with decent numbers, averaging 7.7 points and 6.9 rebounds, it took her until midseason to establish a consistent place in the rotation. She also struggled mentally to find the passion and confidence that had always fueled her success while making the difficult and grueling leap from the college season into the pros.
Morrow was determined to live up to her potential in her second year, so she decided to spend the majority of her offseason in Uncasville working out with the Sun staff. She trained extensively with Chaz Franklin, the team’s head of player development, focusing on caring for her body and building skills to make her game more well-rounded. She was able to continue training with Franklin while competing throughout February at Athletes Unlimited in Nashville, where Franklin was serving as a head coach.
Morrow worked on her outside shooting, her ball-handling — especially in transition scenarios — and added new post moves to her bag to help her to maneuver around opponents with a size advantage. She also prioritized defensive versatility, strengthening her ability to switch out and guard against smaller players on the perimeter.
“That was my biggest goal when I talked to Chaz was just being able to come in here, and I wanted to be a mismatch nightmare,” Morrow said. “I know that I have a very quick step. I’m very explosive. I know that I can rebound, but it’s time to take it to the next level.”
Entering her second season, Morrow set her goals high and wasn’t afraid to say them out loud: She wants to be the WNBA’s Most Improved Player in 2026. So far, she’s certainly on the right trajectory.
The offseason work shows especially in her 3-point percentage, which has skyrocketed from 24% on 1.8 attempts per game last season to 31.8% on 3.1 attempts per game this year. Her field goal percentage has also taken a major leap from 37.5% to 42.5%, and she is averaging three more shots per game than she did in 2025.
Morrow leads the Sun in points and rebounds, and she joined a pair of all-time greats in Alyssa Thomas and Tina Charles as the third player in franchise history to log at least four double-doubles over the first five games of a season.
“That 3-point shot is coming along and it looks amazing,” said Sun guard Saniya Rivers, Morrow’s draft classmate. “She’s just shooting it with so much confidence, and that’s what I’m trying to learn from her. If she misses, she’s just gonna keep shooting, she doesn’t care if somebody tell her to stop … and I love it. She just has that dog mentality.”
Aneesah Morrow #24 of the Connecticut Sun reaches for the ball against Betnijah Laney-Hamilton #44 of the New York Liberty during the first quarter of the season opener at Barclays Center on May 08, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
Even amid the impressive start to her sophomore campaign, Morrow is still trying to earn the trust of head coach Rachid Meziane. Despite her production, Morrow has started just two games and had all four of her double-doubles to date coming off the bench.
The Sun have yet to see much collective success in 2026 with a league-worst 1-6 record, and Meziane said wants to see Morrow play more within the team’s system. The second-year head coach loves her aggression and intensity, but he believes the next step for Morrow’s growth requires strengthening her basketball IQ.
“She got her rebounds, she contributes in this area of the game, but we need more from her,” Meziane said after Morrow shot 4-for-16 in an 98-69 loss to the Las Vegas Aces on May 13. “I need her to understand how we can play and how the team can be more effective, because yeah, she scored 16 points, but we’re still losing the game by 30 points.”
While many fans are bemoaning Morrow’s current role in the rotation, Morrow herself is embracing the challenge. She’s no stranger to proving herself, and her will to win and contribute for her team is unwavering no matter where she in the lineup she lands.
“I think the perspective that Aneesah is looking at right now, it’s very mature,” Rivers said. “The thing about Nees, she’s very unselfish, so whether she’s starting, whether she’s coming off the bench, whatever, when she comes in and when her number is called, she’s gonna go and be Aneesah regardless … I’m just proud of her blocking out noise and just stepping on the floor and doing what Aneesah does.”