“We ain’t do it right the first time. Let’s run it backkkkk,” Angel Reese exclaimed after Haily Van-Lith joined the Chicago Sky. It was a reunion of the former LSU teammates, and a chance to complete the ‘unfinished business’. HVL is all-in for it, too. Some competition, a little youthful flair, and a required amount of fun energy– she’s eager to have a go. But in the Tigers’ reunion, one remained amiss. Someone who has admitted to a great deal of help from the Chi-Town Barbie– Aneesah Morrow. Now they’d make some pair on the court. But whatever you may believe, the LSU forward isn’t dwelling on missing out. She’d much rather issue a challenge!
Morrow was the seventh overall picky by the Connecticut Suns this draft. With a solid double-double average (20.6 points and 12.4 rebounds), the forward looked like a steal at the position. She shared the court with Reese during LSU’s championship run, and then Van Lith joined the team for a year in 2024. The trio had a great run, reaching the Elite Eight.
But in the 2024-25 season, Marrow was left alone to carry the team on her back with both Van-Lith and Reese choosing different paths. As the latter two reunite in Chicago now, Morrow isn’t welcoming any negative sentiments. “To talk about Angel and Hailey, I am just completely like happy for them, honestly,” Morrow said in the press conference. But it wasn’t long before she switched on her competitive side.
“Of course, those are my girls and we are gonna play each other on a floor. It might be like ‘I don’t even know them,’ but that’s how it’s supposed to be.” she maintained.
While there had been no direct matchups between these three stars in 2024, the trio showcased high-intensity gameplay on the court. HVL pushed her TCU side to the program’s first-ever Elite Eight appearance, while Morrow was instrumental in the LSU Tigers’ consecutive championship-game run. Angel? Her season-long performances earned her an all-star call. That’s three highly efficient players possibly being on the same court soon.
Reese would love some of that.
Morrow, who finished her college career at LSU, also spoke about former Tigers Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith reuniting in Chicago.
“It might be like I don’t even know them” she said of the competitive dynamic she expects when the Sun face the Sky (first match-up is 6/15). pic.twitter.com/XvtvZ3zow0
— Ianni (@ianni_ch) April 18, 2025
While Angel was excited to reunite with Hailey, she didn’t miss out on shouting out Aneesah’s name when she was drafted. Ironically, both Aneesah and Angel are number seventh pick, so Reese did not miss a chance to highlight, ‘that #7 is so lucky’. On Instagram, she also shared a story with Aneesah’s selection and captioned it with ‘So proud of you, so deserving.’
These friends will be going against each other 4 times this regular season — 15th June, 13th August, 23rd August, and 3rd September. Keep an eye out because these are the players that have completed each other. Angel Reese averaged 18.6 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists during the 2023-24 season while Morrow, taking the starter’s role for the first time, chipped in 16.4 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Yeah, Van Lith, we couldn’t say much about for that campaign, but a new and improved game? Bring it on.
Moreover, it is the battle of two double-double queens we are talking about. While Morrow is coming off 30 of those in college, the Chi-Town Babrie has ticked off a league record with 15-consecutive ones. The former made it clear, too. “Angel is a competitor, and so am I,” Morrow told on her draft day. But she also admitted, “She helped me a lot while I was at LSU.”
So is the Connecticut Sun ready for it? Or even for the overall season after a recent overhaul?
Connecticut Sun looking to bank on young talent led by Aneesah Morrow
Six postseasons without a title? Yes, Sun needed a fresh look and fresh perspective. But what they did was unexpected by many. ‘The Mohegan Sun Massacre’ – the term used to describe the overhaul. Along with the change in manager and coaching staff, the entire 2024 starting lineup exited via trade or free agency. All-Stars Brionna Jones joined the Atlanta Dream, and DeWanna Bonner signed with the Indiana Fever. The Sun also traded longtime stars Alyssa Thomas moved to the Phoenix Mercury, and DiJonai Carrington settled for the Dallas Wings. Keeping hold of Marina Marbrey, the franchise added seven rookies to four sophomore players.
Though Marina is now the anchor of the franchise, Morgan Tuck is looking to build on the young core, which could be led by their first pick of the 2025 draft – Aneesah Morrow. ESPN’s Charlie Creme singled out Morrow from the group and said, “With the free agent losses of Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner, the Sun needed to find some rebounding. That makes Morrow a good addition. Her nose for the ball is unparalleled in this draft. She also has shooting range and can create her own shot.”
Alongside Morrow, another high-profile rookie drafted is Saniya Rivers. The combo guard is quick, long, and versatile, a player who filled up box scores for the Wolfpack. She faced Morrow & LSU in Sweet Sixteen. Now, they will be playing alongside each other.
The third and most important pick was Rayah Marshall of the USC Trojans. The forward is strong on defence and an elite rebounder, jelling well with Morrow’s offensive game. Offensively, Marshall is very potent. Other rookies that Sun is looking to give a chance to include Mya Hollingshead, Colombian star Abbey Hsu, France’s Olympian Leila Lacan’s potential and Amy Okonkwo, who went undrafted in 2020.
How much time will this team take to form chemistry and dominate the court? We are days away from getting the first hint.
The post Angel Reese Becomes Stranger to Aneesah Morrow as Connecticut Rookie Clears Stance on Hailey Van Lith Reunion at Chicago appeared first on EssentiallySports.