Earlier than listening to her title referred to as on the 2025 WNBA Draft, Aneesah Morrow stepped behind the counter at Elevating Cane’s in New York Metropolis for a pre-draft celebration that honored her rise as one of the vital dominant gamers in girls’s faculty basketball.
The projected top-10 decide and LSU standout suited up for a particular “shift” at Cane’s Astor Place location, the place she served followers, took selfies, buttered toast, and mirrored on the trail that introduced her to this second — one which has included switch success, record-breaking rebounding, and the affect of high-profile teammates.
“It’s nice being part of a girls’s sports activities legacy. I’ve been capable of play throughout a time when extra persons are engaged,” Morrow mentioned. “I’m excited and slightly nervous for the Draft, however I’m simply attempting to benefit from the second.”
Morrow, the 2024 USA Right now SEC Participant of the 12 months and Defensive Participant of the 12 months, averaged 18.8 factors and 13.7 rebounds whereas taking pictures 49.4 p.c from the sphere in her senior season. She earned unanimous All-SEC First Group honors and was named the nation’s prime energy ahead with the Katrina McClain Award.
She finishes her collegiate profession because the third all-time main rebounder in NCAA Division I girls’s basketball historical past and led the nation in rebounding in 2024.
Aneesah Morrow’s WNBA Draft Inventory Rises
Aneesah Morrow’s dominant postseason performances helped push her increased up draft boards. She tallied 26 factors and 11 rebounds towards Florida State within the second spherical and posted 30 factors and 19 rebounds in a Candy 16 win. With Olivia Miles opting to return to high school, Morrow surged into the top-five dialog.
A number of shops mission Morrow to be chosen seventh total by the Connecticut Solar, whereas Ballislife has her projected fifth to the enlargement Golden State Valkyries. Different potential touchdown spots embrace the Washington Mystics, who maintain picks Nos. 3, 4, and 6, and the Los Angeles Sparks at No. 9.
Forward of the draft, longtime WNBA coach and present Dallas Wings basic supervisor Curt Miller praised Morrow’s defining energy: Rebounding.
“Whichever franchise is lucky to finish up together with her is getting a extremely proficient participant,” Miller mentioned. “At the beginning, I personally, in my decade on this league, suppose that rebounding has translated, and gamers that rebounded in faculty ended up rebounding within the professionals. And so one of many issues that you’ve that simply pops off the chart [is] when she leads the nation in rebounding.”
Miller added that Morrow’s affect on the boards, regardless of being 6-foot-1, makes her accomplishments much more spectacular.
“She’s undersized, so it talks about tenacity, it talks about want,” he mentioned. “Rebounding is a giant hustle statistic.”
Morrow embraces that popularity and says it’s one thing she takes private pleasure in.
“Rebounding is a giant a part of my recreation, and I’ll by no means stray from it,” she mentioned. “Getting further possessions for my workforce is big. It requires starvation and grit. If it had been straightforward, everybody would do it, however I’m going to remain the course and maintain that mindset. Within the WNBA, it’ll be necessary to remain energetic on the boards and contribute to my workforce’s success by securing these further possibilities. I take pleasure in being relentless in that side, and I do know that’ll be beneficial on the subsequent stage.”
Whereas the Wings are unlikely to pick out Morrow with the primary two picks, Miller believes her method would profit any locker room.
“All of us want to add dawgs to our locker room,” he mentioned. “I feel all of us imagine that she’ll be a dawg within the locker room.”
Constructing A Model AT LSU And Past
At Elevating Cane’s in New York, Aneesah Morrow mirrored on her journey to LSU and the way it formed her—not simply as an athlete but in addition as an individual and public determine.
“Cane’s was my first meal at LSU, and it was so good,” Morrow mentioned. “My go-to order is the Field Combo, no slaw, further fries, and additional toast.”
She credited the LSU group and tradition for supporting her targets from day one and giving her the platform to succeed.
“After I got here to LSU, I knew the fan base and the group had been A1,” she mentioned. “I wished to carry out on the highest stage, and I knew I might try this on the ground, however it’s at all times higher with that group assist. The LSU tradition simply loves on you. Having the ability to make historical past was a aim I had, not simply at LSU, however at any program. So, seeing that I used to be capable of accomplish that’s nice.”
Morrow additionally drew inspiration from Elevating Cane’s founder Todd Graves, a outstanding LSU supporter whose entrepreneurial story resonated together with her.
“Todd’s story conjures up me,” Morrow mentioned. “There are mornings the place you get up with doubts, however you push via, and a month later you’re pleased with what you probably did. That’s what he represents, and it’s superb to be a part of one thing he constructed.”
The double-double customary
Aneesah Morrow is certainly one of simply two gamers in D-I historical past with 100+ double-doubles and led the nation twice in rebounds per recreation this season. She’s a 3x AP All-American and received the Katrina McClain Award because the nation’s prime energy ahead in 2025. At… pic.twitter.com/xshgPIeqTD
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 11, 2025
For Morrow, her time at LSU was about greater than stats and awards — it was about constructing one thing lasting off the court docket.
“That’s precisely why I got here to LSU — to construct my model,” she mentioned. “The LSU model is the perfect, actually. Cane’s took me in with open arms. It was the primary meal I had on campus. Now to be right here once more, proper earlier than the draft, it’s full circle.”
Morrow credited teammate Angel Reese for serving to her navigate the highlight throughout a season of excessive expectations and a spotlight.
“Angel helped me loads at LSU, particularly at boards,” Morrow mentioned. “It’ll be fascinating enjoying towards her and seeing how we’ve modified. Being with Angel day-after-day at follow and seeing the media affect and the way she dealt with it, I actually discovered loads from her.”
“I can not do my job with out Aneesah…
I do not get the participant of the yr with out Aneesah.
I do not get my rebounds with out Aneesah.
I do not rating with out Aneesah…
We each participant of the yr at this level.” @Reese10Angel with highly effective props to Aneesah Morrow. pic.twitter.com/mirypth2m4
— Girls’s Hoops Community (@WomensHoops_USA) March 10, 2024
Morrow Praised Kim Mulkey For Her Success
Surrounded by different high-profile athletes, like gymnast Livvy Dunne, Morrow mentioned she discovered necessary classes about managing the general public eye.
“I used to be capable of be taught loads from them, actually,” she mentioned. “Some days I’d verify in with Angel like, ‘You good?’ as a result of the media affect was actual. However she at all times stayed composed. She taught me that media isn’t the true world — you may flip your telephone off and it’s gone.”
She mentioned LSU head coach Kim Mulkey performed a gradual hand in serving to her stay grounded and assured.
“Coach Kim tried to instill as a lot confidence in me as she might,” Morrow mentioned. “She at all times instructed me to be who I’m, don’t change for anyone, and continue to grow my recreation.”
From Baton Rouge, LA to @TheShedNY
Aneesah Morrow is formally invited to the 2025 #WNBADraft offered by @StateFarm.
Tune in April 14 at 7:30pm/ET on ESPN to see the place her subsequent chapter begins! pic.twitter.com/h5pF5g8Loy
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 11, 2025
Aneesah Morrow Is Prepared For The WNBA
That assist was vital throughout her last recreation in a Tigers uniform, which she mentioned left her reflecting on how far she’d come.
“I didn’t need my final recreation as a Tiger to be my final,” she mentioned. “Proper earlier than I bought subbed out, I needed to let it sink in. I attempted to not be unhappy and instructed myself what I’ve accomplished over the previous two years has been unbelievable.”
Now getting ready for the skilled stage, Morrow is concentrated on refining her ability set.
“Sure, I need to enhance my ball-handling and flattening the three constantly,” she mentioned. “As I transfer to the subsequent stage, having the ability to create for myself and others off the dribble is necessary, and I need to be extra dependable from the three-point line. These are areas I’m specializing in to assist elevate my recreation.”
When requested what message she hopes to ship to WNBA groups, Morrow pointed to her mindset.
“I don’t wish to be denied. I don’t wish to be instructed no,” she mentioned. “It’d sound like being slightly spoiled, however on the identical time, I work very exhausting on and off the ground — academically, within the classroom, within the weight room, attempting to see my physique change. I actually work exhausting to perform the targets that I need.”
She added that she seems to be ahead to becoming a member of a workforce that may assist her develop via construction and mentorship.
“I need to be on a workforce the place I can be taught and be a sponge to professionals and a few of the finest gamers on the planet,” Morrow mentioned. “Get that constructive criticism from coaches, develop, and simply maintain getting higher.”
Morrow mentioned she’s proud to enter the WNBA at a time when girls’s basketball is experiencing unprecedented momentum.
“I bear in mind being in highschool pondering, ‘There’s a lot extra to girls’s sports activities,’ however individuals hadn’t seen it but,” she mentioned. “Now persons are engaged and paying consideration — it’s highly effective, and I’m actually having fun with it.”
Off the court docket, she has plans that reach nicely past basketball.
“I at all times need to give again to Chicago,” Morrow mentioned. “Rising up on the South Facet, I noticed loads. I need to be a job mannequin for youths who suppose their goals are out of attain. I need to present them it’s attainable.”
Because the draft approaches, Morrow mentioned she plans to embrace the second, feelings and all.
“Draft day goes to be busy,” she mentioned with a smile. “Hair, make-up, a number of TikToks — simply attempting to benefit from the second. It’s going to be emotional. I’m going to strive to not cry and mess up my make-up, however I understand how a lot work went into this. Listening to my title referred to as will likely be a aid.”
When requested what she’ll miss most from LSU, she didn’t hesitate.
“That sisterhood,” she mentioned. “I used to be simply telling Aalyah Del Rosario how a lot I’ll miss them. They pushed me to guide and develop, and I’ll at all times do not forget that.”
The 2025 WNBA Draft takes place Monday in New York. Wherever Aneesah Morrow lands, she’ll arrive with a relentless motor, loads of upside, and one thing to show.
