For Aneesah Morrow, sports were in her genes. Her father, Edward, was a standout linebacker at Nebraska, while her mother, Nafeesah, was an all-conference forward for the Cornhuskers basketball team. So, it didn’t take long for her to lean into one of those paths. “When you’re younger, you kind of get mad at your parents for waking you up at six in the morning to go run on the track… or be on the sidewalk in front of the porch, dribbling,” Morrow recalled. “But it was a way of keeping us active… I feel like that’s something that really helped.” But while her preparation might seem easy in hindsight, it truly wasn’t.

Morrow might now be known for ruling Baton Rouge, but her roots truly run deep in Chicago. She was a real star there. Simeon High School saw its first state championship with her as a player, DePaul coach had her on the recruitment list even before she was dominant, and she even has her jersey retired at Simeon. With that as the icing on the cake, Morrow holds the city very close to her heart. She wasn’t even willing to move away for college, settling with DePaul for the first two years instead.

But as much warmth as she has known with her family and her basketball journey there, the other side of the experience of growing up in the South Side Chicago did not elude her. She remembers the harsh realities that surrounded the area and did not shy away from opening up about it during her introductory press conference.

“I know when I was growing up, they had to take the rims off the hoops because of the violence. Nobody could go to the park and go play because of the crowd that it brought. And people would get a little violent if they lost games,” she shared. “I’ve been in crossfire before. I’ve had to see people take their last breath, running outside, didn’t feel as safe.” 

But the purpose of revealing the experience? Morrow wants to inspire. Not just from those in the same situation as hers, but everyone around.

According to an analysis by ChicagoReader.com, over the last decade, 16 basketball courts and 42 backboards have been removed from Chicago parks. The violence has been glaringly prevalent throughout the years, limiting opportunities, diminishing hopes. Though it has improved now, with numerous organizations stepping in, Morrow had to overcome it as a young kid. She admits there were times, being caught in a crossfire got her very close to the possibility of an end, but here she is, going to Connecticut as the 7th overall pick.

“I want to inspire children, that you can accomplish goals, even if they feel like they are out of reach. Sometimes your situation growing up, it might look as if you’re never going to come close to that. But if you continue to be true to yourself, work hard, and be determined, you are capable,” she adds.

Morrow closed out her impressive collegiate career with over 100 career double-doubles. After Angel Reese left LSU, it was Morrow who stepped up, filling that void and leading the team. She finished her collegiate career leading second all-time in double-doubles (104), third all-time in rebounds (1,714) and 25 all-time in scoring (2,852).

So how could a team not want a leader like her? “She’s got the ‘it’ factor, right,” Sun president Jennifer Rizzotti says. “It’s so hard to quantify sometimes when someone has that competitive edge to them, that knows how to get the job done. She’s played at the highest level. She understands what it takes. She’s competitive.”

With the departure of much of the Sun’s core roster, the team is entering a rebuild phase—and Morrow is now a big part of it. The best part? She already has her priorities set.

Aneesah Morrow is clear on what she can deliver or intake

Simply put, to fulfil her priorities, she has to perform better in W. Especially since her collegiate performance already sets the bar quite higher. The Katrina McClain Award, which is presented annually to the best women’s basketball power forward in college, isn’t going to waste. Morrow has shed her tears, enjoyed the moment, now she is ready to make her mark. How? She doesn’t have any specific outline, but she is ready to be a sponge.

“To be able to adjust to the system, be on a team where I can learn and be a sponge to pros and some of the best players in the world,” said the Tigress. “Get that constructive criticism from coaches… And just be able to grow.”

Morrow has ensured she is someone who really works hard to accomplish the goals I want to. With the Connecticut Sun only just rebuilding after loosing all its star players, save for Marina Mabrey, that’s a necessity. She has been compared to Alyssa Thomas, a former Sun, and Morrow is determined to mold her game around the icon. With Morgan Tuck at helm, who has had a first-hand view of Thomas’ development, Morrow is headed to the right place.