Aneesah Morrow trade buzz tests Liberty deadline resolve
The New York Liberty should go all-in at the WNBA trade deadline for Breanna Stewart, and one mock proposal has them acquiring Aneesah Morrow from the Connecticut Sun for Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and a 2027 first-round pick as New York sits seventh at 16-12 after a Commissioner's Cup start.
Key Takeaways
- The New York Post argues Breanna Stewart is too good for the Liberty to stand still at the trade deadline.
- A Yahoo Sports/Athlon mock trade would send Laney-Hamilton and a 2027 first-round pick to Connecticut for Aneesah Morrow.
- Morrow is averaging 11.1 points and 9.0 rebounds for a Sun team with the second-worst WNBA record.
- ATL All Day also floats Laney-Hamilton as a veteran Atlanta Dream bench target amid her reduced New York role.
Why does Breanna Stewart force a Liberty deadline decision?
According to the New York Post, Stewart remains one of the two best players in the WNBA. She could even be a dark horse for Defensive Player of the Year if New York's team defense improves.
The Post says she has too often carried an injury-plagued Liberty roster. Sabrina Ionescu has recently rediscovered her flow, while Jonquel Jones posted an All-Star-worthy first half.
That core context is why New York's choices before Sunday's deadline matter beyond a single roster tweak. For more deadline-style market alerts, see our Fintech & Crypto Alerts hub.
Could Aneesah Morrow be the Liberty's forward upgrade?
Yahoo Sports, citing Athlon Sports, reports New York fell to seventh at 16-12 after winning the WNBA Commissioner's Cup. The Liberty could upgrade around Stewart, Ionescu, and Jones.
One idea: ship Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and a 2027 first-round pick to the Connecticut Sun for Aneesah Morrow. The 23-year-old forward is averaging 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 40.7% from the field and 28.1% from three.
Athlon frames Morrow as a scoring and rebounding forward who could boost a championship push. The Sun, holding the second-worst record, may still keep her as a young building block.
Where else could Betnijah Laney-Hamilton land?
Laney-Hamilton's role has shrunk in New York. ATL All Day notes she is averaging 4.9 points per game after returning from a knee injury and after Satou Sabally's addition.
The Dream angle: Atlanta could use a proven veteran off the bench to spell heavy-minute All-Stars Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. Laney-Hamilton won Most Improved Player with the Dream in 2020.
Whether New York deals her for Aneesah Morrow or fields other calls, the Post's message is clear—honesty about contention means not standing still for Stewart.