Faithful Wolf: Teige Morrell taking aim at a return to the WNBL

American-born Teige Morrell is making a strong case for WNBL opportunities with the Joondalup Wolves.

Image credit: Mason Anderson supplied by NBL1

It’s been a big 24 months since 6’2 forward Teige Morrell was crowned the MVP and Halls Medal winner for the NBL1 Central in 2021.

A small opportunity with the Bendigo Spirit, and some training sessions with the Adelaide Lightning during her previous two years in the country, has stoked Morrell’s hunger to go bigger in her career.

Unlike the G League’s relationship with the NBA, there was no second-tier pathway to the WNBA in the United States when Morrell finished college, somewhat ironically with the Nevada Wolfpack.

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Joondalup Wolves on Instagram: “Photos from Van Kailis Court 💚📸
Your Wolfpack Women put it all on the floor last night but unfortunately fell just short of the win. Take a look at some of the highlights of the night, taken by our amazing Deliver Partner @sportsimageryau #Wolfpack #NBL1 #JoondalupWolves #NBL1West”

May 29, 2023

“I knew my senior year of college that I wanted to continue playing basketball and I wanted to play professionally,” shared Morrell with The Pick and Roll. “Unfortunately, in America, it's either WNBA or nothing really.”

That was when she started to look overseas for her next step in her basketball career.

“I think they are working towards a G League-type thing going, but that’s going to be a couple years till that hits the ground running,” explained Morrell. “Lots of people ask that question, ‘why aren't you in the States? I thought the States is where people go, because people in Australia are familiar with girls going to college in America.’

“For us who aren't necessarily at the WNBA level, and want to continue playing, overseas is the best option. My desire was to go either to Australia or Spain originally.”

As it happened, Morrell landed in Adelaide at the Woodville Warriors as their star import prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was one of the last offers she received when a handful of other European offers fell through. Even as someone whose life off the court is filled by faith and spiritual belief, Morrell needed patience in waiting for responses from the various clubs and organisations. The waiting eventually paid off, and Woodville came calling.