With her sharp court vision and impressive height, UConn Huskies freshman Morgan Cheli is quickly becoming a fan favorite. But beyond the dazzling passes and smooth plays, there’s a story that shaped her journey to the spotlight. Ever wondered what sparked Cheli’s love for basketball? Let’s take a step off the court and dive into her family roots and early life to discover what fuels this rising star’s passion for the game.
Who are Morgan Cheli’s parents? What do they do?
Before Morgan Cheli was going dime-for-dollar and taking over the court as a UConn freshman, she was a spunky little kindergartener growing up in Los Altos, California, already causing some noise in youth basketball. All this time, her parents were busy supporting and guiding her on the sidelines. Her parents, Tom and Leah Cheli, may not have NBA-level résumés, but they most certainly warrant their own highlight tape when it comes to building a star.
Right from the get-go, Tom and Leah realized Morgan wasn’t your typical kid with a ball. She had flame. So they got her into a local hoops program—good thinking in theory… until Morgan stumbled upon one decidedly suspect rule: every player had a limit of five buckets to score per game. Yes, a literal score cap. For Morgan, who was ready to dominate each and every game, this was pretty much a buzzkill.
But rather than pouting, she turned the tables. According to her mother, “She would steal the ball, go down the court and pass it off to a teammate, and they would probably miss it three times because it was kindergarten and first grade, but she’d rebound and literally hand it to them to try again”.
Meanwhile, her dad Tom was busy being Coach Dad—guiding her through elementary and middle school ball, teaching her the basics and then some. He made sure Morgan not only played the game but understood it. The Cheli household, by the way, was no stranger to intense family competitions. Remembering Cheli’s competitive streak, he said, “Our family is unfortunately and fortunately a little too competitive at whatever is going on.“. And yes, that probably explains a lot.
While their professional lives remain private, Tom and Leah Cheli’s full-time job, at least during Morgan’s early years, was being her biggest fans, toughest coaches, and ultimate hype squad.
Does Morgan Cheli have any siblings?
So, the question is, did Cheli grow up in the ultimate sibling showdown arena? Well, yes. The youngest of three, Morgan had to bring her A-game from day one. Her brother Mack is seven years older, and her sister Emma had a two-year head start. That made Morgan the baby of the family, but not the type to sit on the sidelines and watch. From following her brothers’ games to sitting courtside at every practice, she was always surrounded by sports. And when the play came home to the driveway? That’s when it got serious.
Her dad and siblings would get into heated games of HORSE, and little Morgan would be right there, asking—begging—to play. She’d tug on her dad Tom’s shirt, full of confidence, saying, “Come on, I’m ready. Let me play!”
And she wasn’t joking. She didn’t simply want to fire up shots around—the lady was hungry to win. She’d even play up against her brother’s pals, guys far older and many inches taller than she was. “They definitely went easy on me, and so they get a lot of credit for that and my competitiveness. My dad he really ignited my passion for basketball,” Morgan shared.
That never-back-down attitude? That fearlessness, feistiness you see on the court today? It all started right there in the driveway, where the littlest Cheli learned to play big.
What is Morgan Cheli’s parents’ nationality?
Tom and Leah Cheli are proud U.S. nationals—and it’s right here in the U.S. that Morgan’s basketball career took off. Growing up in Los Altos, California, Morgan was raised on the game, fueled by a competitive household and a dream that pointed straight to Storrs, Connecticut.
Early on, she had her eyes set on one destination: the University of Connecticut. With UConn legend Diana Taurasi being an inspiration, Morgan knew precisely where she belonged. So when she formally became a part of the Huskies team, it was more than just a commitment to college; it was her dream!
Unfortunately, that vision was momentarily stalled. A challenging ankle injury prevented her from lacing up during the 2024–25 season. Fear not—her surgery went well, and she’s on a strong road to recovery. It won’t be long before fans can finally see Morgan Cheli play at UConn, doing what she does best.
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