On July 30, after a tough loss to the Minnesota Lynx, the Toronto Tempo showed once again that they have a rampant rebounding problem.
The next day, they set out to fix it. And when Monica Wright Rogers secured a deal with the Connecticut Sun, she became the first WNBA expansion team general manager to complete a trade at the deadline in their inaugural season.
Reports had been circulating all week that the Tempo were shopping around for a young post player to build around, and although initial rumors said they might move a first round pick, the deal for Aneesah Morrow was made in exchange for a 2028 second rounder and the rights to Maria Kliundikova.
“Aneesah is a perfect fit for our organization because she addresses a clear on court need with her already proven production in this need. Her rebounding, motor, physicality, and competitiveness align with the type of culture we want to establish here,” Wright Rogers said when she addressed the media and introduced Morrow for the first time.
“This was not a move for the short term,” Wright Rogers continued. “We envisioned Aneesah to be a part of our core as we work towards sustained contention in seasons to come.”
The move to Toronto wasn’t particularly surprising to Morrow, who admitted she knew the conversations being held at the time.
“Of course, I’m here to rebound,” Morrow said with a laugh.
“That’s just what I do, and that’s what I pride my game off of, just being that force on the boards, offensively and defensively. But just being able to be a mismatched nightmare, they know that I could go and guard anyone, and they know that I’m also willing to do so. So being on the floor, putting my talent out there, showing the work that I put in … and being able to be that three-level scorer.”
When the trade was made, Morrow had the highest offensive rebounding rate in the league at 31.9 % while averaging 11.6 points per game and 8.9 rebounds per game over approximately 23 minutes.
At that time, the highest rebounder on the Tempo, Isabelle Harrison, was averaging 6.4 rebounds per game — 2.5 less than Morrow.
Morrow sees rebounding as the gateway to other success on the floor. As she explained, when she comes down with a board it often opens up an opportunity for her to convert and get a bucket.
“I get excited when it comes down to rebounding. Honestly, I feel like that’s where I get my momentum from. When I’m able to rebound offensively or defensively, I’m either able to push the ball in transition, I’m able to outlay it to a teammate, which makes the offense go a little bit faster. Or offensively, I’m able to get my own buckets the easy way,” she said.
On Tuesday, Morrow played her first game with the Tempo against the Golden State Valkyries. In her 16 minutes on the court she scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds.
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She immediately fit in with a Tempo squad that has been flexing from behind the arc all season; Morrow’s first basket for the Tempo was a three. Pushing the ball in transition has been another cornerstone of the Tempo’s style of play, and as an aggressive rebounder, that edge of the game is an area where Morrow can contribute.
Even before Morrow stepped onto the court in Bordeaux and Borealis blue, however, head coach Sandy Brondello had faith in the lasting impact the new acquisition would make.
“I think she’s evolved as a player this year. She’s shooting the three ball well, but she’s got this high motor,” Brondello said.
“Why not get this young talent, this player that you could build around into the future that certainly covers some needs that we thought that we needed. So I thought it was a really good move.”
Part of why the trade worked so well for the Tempo was the term and deal Morrow was already on, and how those numbers fit into what Toronto is looking to build.
“[The deal] accomplishes immediate need and her age, her contract is also something that helps us to build toward the future. And so, I think without sacrificing premium assets, being able to have a caliber, high caliber player like Aneesah on our roster is was a win situation for us, and something that I think we would be remiss not to try to add that to our roster at this time,” Wright Rogers explained.
Morrow was drafted seventh overall from LSU in 2025 by the Sun and is in year two of a three-year rookie contract worth $237,670 with a team option for the 2028 season.
Morrow and Tempo star Marina Mabrey picked right up from where they left off after last season in Connecticut. In their first Tempo scrimmage, Mabrey reminded Morrow who was the vet as she hit a shot in the new acquisition’s face.
“But the next one, I blocked, so it’s pretty even-steven,” Morrow recounted.
After playing together in Morrow’s rookie year, the two have a special relationship.
“Marina is a competitor. She’s a dog … but also she’s very nurturing and very loving. So that’s something I get to see, I call her mama Mabrey.”
As the Tempo have shown so far, an inaugural season isn’t just for building something on the court; it’s for establishing the team culture outside of the arena. Game day dance circles during the Tempo’s march to the court have become a pump up staple for the team, and Morrow has jumped right into the flow.
“I’m honestly grateful to be here,” Morrow said. “My first day here was very refreshing. I enjoyed myself. The girls laughed a lot, and we were able to get to work.”
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