Give the Toronto Tempo credit. They are not messing around!
As reported by Alexa Phillipou, the Tempo have traded for Aneesah Morrow from the Connecticut Sun in exchange for the rights to Mariia Kliundicova and a 2028 second round pick.
This is absolutely a phenomenal pickup for the Tempo.
Coming into the league, Aneesah Morrow was billed as an elite rebounder and double-double machine with the ability to shoot the ball from distance as well.
In the one and a half seasons she has played in the league, Morrow has lived up to the hype. This season, she is averaging close to a double-double with 11.6 points and 8.9 rebounds. Despite being undersized at 6’1” at the power forward position, Morrow has elite strength, hustle, and energy that propels her to be able to more than hold her own against taller players on both ends of the court.
For the Tempo, Morrow’s strengths will immediately be helpful and welcomed to this team.
On the defensive side, Morrow fills exactly what the Tempo have desperately needed all season long. As Zulfi Sheikh notes, Morrow led the league in defensive rebounding rate last season (31.9%). This season, the Tempo are second-worst in the league in defensive rebounding and third-worst in rebounding overall. At an average of 8.9 rebounds per game, Morrow is currently ranked eighth in the league in rebounding. For reference, Izzy Harrison is currently the Tempo’s leading rebounder with 6.4 rebounds per game. Morrow will come in and immediately become the Tempo’s best rebounder.
On the offensive side, while Morrow still needs to improve her scoring efficiency (she is currently shooting just 42% from the field, 28% from 3, and 62% from the free throw line), she works best operating in the paint through drives, hustle plays, and working in the dunker spot. The Tempo have lacked points in the paint all season long and Morrow can immediately improve that area of need.
Finally, Morrow is still only 23 years old and under contract until 2028 with lots of room to grow.
We can’t wait to watch her play in a Tempo jersey. Welcome Aneesah!