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Sun trade Aneesah Morrow to Toronto Tempo for Kliundikova, 2028 pick

The Connecticut Sun traded forward Aneesah Morrow to the Toronto Tempo on Friday, acquiring Maria Kliundikova and a 2028 second-round pick. Morrow, the Sun's 2025 first-round pick, averaged 11.6 points and 8.9 rebounds in 20 games this season. The move signals Connecticut's rebuild ahead of its 2026 relocation to Houston, while Toronto hopes to snap a five-game losing streak.

Sun trade Aneesah Morrow to Toronto Tempo for Kliundikova, 2028 pick

Sun trade Aneesah Morrow to Toronto Tempo for Kliundikova, 2028 pick

The short answer

Aneesah Morrow, a former LSU star drafted seventh overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2025 WNBA Draft, has been traded to the Toronto Tempo. The Sun announced the deal on Friday, sending Morrow to Toronto for the rights to forward Maria Kliundikova and a 2028 second-round pick. To make room on the roster, the Tempo waived guard Tima Pouye. Morrow was in her second WNBA season, averaging 11.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists while rotating between starting and bench roles. The Sun are in a rebuilding phase because the 2026 season will be their last in Connecticut before the team moves to Houston and becomes the Houston Comets. Toronto, meanwhile, is loading up to end a five-game losing streak, pairing Morrow with rookie Kiki Rice and All-Star Marina Mabrey. The Tempo had previously tried to acquire forward Aaliyah Edwards from the Sun for a first-round pick, but Connecticut declined that offer. Morrow started her last three games for the Sun, including a 21-point, 7-rebound performance in Thursday's loss to the Chicago Sky.

Why it's trending

The trade happened right before the WNBA trade deadline and involves a highly touted young player, generating sudden search interest. Connecticut's pending move to Houston makes the deadline an inflection point for the franchise, while the Tempo's active pursuit of a frontcourt star—and their current losing streak—adds urgency to the story.

The Connecticut Sun traded forward Aneesah Morrow to the Toronto Tempo on Friday, according to the New York Times and ESPN. Connecticut receives the rights to forward Maria Kliundikova and the Tempo's 2028 second-round pick. The Tempo also waived guard Tima Pouye to keep a 12-player roster, as reported by the New York Times.

Morrow, a former LSU standout, was drafted seventh overall by Connecticut in the 2025 WNBA Draft. In 20 appearances this season, she averaged 11.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, according to the New York Times. She started her final three games for the Sun, scoring 21 points in Thursday's 94-88 loss to the Chicago Sky. The Tempo's general manager, Monica Wright Rogers, said in a statement that Morrow is "a relentless competitor" and "one of the emerging front court talents in this league."

The trade is part of a larger rebuild for the Sun. The 2026 campaign is the team's last in Connecticut before the franchise relocates to Houston and rebrands as the Houston Comets under owner Tilman Fertitta, the New York Times reported. The Sun's front office was expected to be active at the deadline, with sources suggesting the team wants to build toward the new market. Earlier in the season, the Sun turned down a Tempo offer of a first-round pick for forward Aaliyah Edwards, per the New York Times.

For the Tempo, the acquisition addresses a pressing need for a young frontcourt star to complement their backcourt of rookie Kiki Rice and All-Star Marina Mabrey. The team arrives at the trade deadline amid a five-game losing streak, according to the New York Times. This move could shift the balance in the WNBA playoff race and signals Toronto's intent to compete immediately rather than wait for draft capital.

Timeline

  1. Morrow drafted by Connecticut Sun

    The Sun selected Aneesah Morrow with the seventh overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, according to the New York Times.

  2. Morrow's final game with the Sun

    Morrow started and scored 21 points with 7 rebounds in Connecticut's 94-88 loss to the Chicago Sky, as reported by the New York Times.

  3. Trade announced

    The Connecticut Sun announced they traded Morrow to the Toronto Tempo for the rights to Maria Kliundikova and the Tempo's 2028 second-round pick. The Tempo waived Tima Pouye to maintain roster size, per the New York Times.

  4. Sun's final season in Connecticut

    The 2026 season is the team's last before relocating to Houston, where it will become the Houston Comets under Tilman Fertitta, as reported by the New York Times.

Questions people ask

Why did the Connecticut Sun trade Aneesah Morrow?

The Sun are rebuilding ahead of their 2026 relocation to Houston, where they will become the Houston Comets. According to the New York Times, there was a sense around the league that the front office would be active at the deadline because of positional overlap and a desire to build a winner in the new market.

What is the Toronto Tempo getting in Aneesah Morrow?

Morrow is a forward in her second WNBA season, averaging 11.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. She was drafted seventh overall in 2025 and is considered an emerging frontcourt talent, according to Tempo general manager Monica Wright Rogers. The Tempo are pairing her with guards Kiki Rice and Marina Mabrey.

Why was Tima Pouye waived by the Toronto Tempo?

The Tempo waived guard Tima Pouye in a corresponding move to maintain a 12-player roster after acquiring Morrow, according to the New York Times.

Did the Sun previously reject a trade involving a first-round pick?

Yes. The New York Times reported that the Sun turned down an offer from the Tempo earlier in the season that included a first-round pick in exchange for forward Aaliyah Edwards.

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