While most WNBA teams were busy stacking their rosters for a title run in 2025, the Connecticut Sun found themselves in survival mode. It’s because their entire starting lineup from last season was gone. For a team that had made the playoffs six years running, standing with no hopes felt like the bottom had fallen out.
But Sun didn’t let their hopes die. At first, they brought in a rookie class with Aneesah Morrow as a highlight. Then, they made a bold veteran pickup in Tina Charles. No doubt, it was a decent move, but it proved to be one as soon as Charles led the way with 17 points in a preseason win over the defending champs, New York Liberty.
But what really stood out? Her mentorship. Her first priority wasn’t the scoreboard—it was showing Morrow the ropes. “She just told me to be myself,” Morrow shared, reflecting on her earliest takeaway from the vet. But is this valuable advice really of any use to Morrow??
Despite potential, Aneesah Morrow fails to make a debut for the Sun.
No doubt, the overall No. 7 pick by the Sun is a valuable asset. However, Morrow hasn’t been able to live up to that status so far in 2025, as she could not suit for the Sun. The former LSU star has been struggling with a knee injury. Notably, she sustained a mid-foot sprain in college during a game versus Texas. While there was no structural damage, it did cause significant soreness. She was then forced out of the game against Georgia.
But when Morrow returned to play against Texas during the SEC semifinals, the injury worsened. Head Coach Kim Mulkey provided an update, mentioning that Morrow had “reaggravated a mid-foot sprain,” but she denied that the forward would miss the NCAA Tournament. “She’s good to go,” Mulkey said. “I’m not surprised. She was fighting them to get back in the game.” And Morrow proved her toughness, playing a crucial role in helping LSU reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament.
Then, in the game against UCLA, she took a hit on the nose and was left with a bloodied face. Shortly after, she was drafted into the WNBA. All of this meant she didn’t have much time to recover before entering the league. While she participated in training sessions, she didn’t appear in any preseason games. “I’ve been enjoying myself. I’ve been having fun being around the vets… Being around the team, just learning a lot, and enjoying the process, honestly,” she shared in an interview.
Reflecting on her early WNBA experience, Morrow added, “Sometimes it feels like it’s a whirlwind, but you have to. You know, try to find your balance. I feel like as athletes, we never really find our balance, but as of right now, I have a great support system with the coaching staff and my teammates.”
While Morrow sounds confident and optimistic, she still won’t be suiting up for Game 2 of the 2025 regular season. And that’s a tough pill to swallow for the Sun, especially coming off a narrow 90-85 loss to the Washington Mystics.
Aneesah Morrow (knee) ruled out for Tuesday.
— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) May 19, 2025
However, she’s not the only one who hasn’t performed in the last game. All three rookies—Aneesah Morrow, No. 8 pick Saniya Rivers, and No. 25 pick Rayah Marshall—are still waiting to make their regular-season debut for the Sun. Notably, the HC chose not to play Marshall in the opener, while Rivers missed the game due to personal reasons.
But there’s a key difference between the three. While the other two rookies are expected to play in the upcoming game, Morrow will not get a chance as she’s already ruled out.
Connecticut Sun vs Las Vegas Aces: Who’s in, who’s out?
Joining Morrow on the sidelines will be Leïla Lacan, the Sun’s No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft. Notably, Lacan’s contract has been temporarily suspended by the Sun. Though Lacan has made the final roster, she won’t occupy a roster spot until she fulfills her overseas obligations. So, side from Morrow and Lacan, all players are expected to be active for the game versus the Aces on May 21. While specific details about her status remain limited, the team is looking forward to her future contributions as they continue developing their young core.
Meanwhile, a fresh update gives some hope regarding Rivers. Women’s Hoops Network took to X today, posting, “Saniya Rivers is expected to make her WNBA debut against the Aces on Tuesday”.
NCAA, College League, USA Womens Basketball: NCAA Tournament Spokane Regional-UCLA Bruins vs LSU Lady Tigers Mar 30, 2025 Spokane, WA, USA LSU Lady Tigers forward Aneesah Morrow 24 shoots against UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts 51 and forward Angela Dugalic 32 during the second half of a Elite 8 NCAA Tournament basketball game at Spokane Arena. Spokane Spokane Arena WA USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJamesxSnookx 20250330_map_an2_135
As for Rayah Marshall, many think that the HC made a very puzzling decision by not letting her play in the last game. After all, she was the only one who could have stopped Kiki Iriafen, considering she is already familiar with her play and is a beast on her own too. So, yeah, it is sort of in the air that the Sun lost that game because of this move and the coach might listen to fans and give Marshall her minutes in the game against Aces.
You can catch the game at 7 p.m. ET on Vegas 34, NBCS-BOS, and ESPN+. Mohegan Sun Arena will be buzzing and we are all very excited.
The post Is Aneesah Morrow Playing vs Las Vegas Aces? Connecticut Sun Injury Report as Nation Awaits ex-LSU Star’s Debut appeared first on EssentiallySports.
