Morgan Cheli finally suited up and hit the court for UConn women’s basketball Monday night, ending a brutal absence that stretched over 600 days. She made her return in an exhibition win against Syracuse at Mohegan Sun Arena, marking her first game back after missing a season and a half due to a nasty ankle injury. While it was just a preseason game, it was huge for Cheli, who’s been grinding through recovery.
The Long Road Back to the Hardwood
This comeback has been a marathon for Cheli. Her last game was way back on February 9, 2025, a win at Providence where she played 23 minutes, grabbing two points, four rebounds, and an assist as a freshman. She was a go-to option off the bench, appearing in 24 games and averaging 13.3 minutes. But then, nagging ankle pain became too much, eventually diagnosed as a stress fracture. Just ten days later, she was on the operating table. The plan was a swift return, but recovery took longer than anyone hoped, costing her the entire 2025-26 season. She didn’t even get back to practice until late March 2026, when the Huskies were battling through the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. You could just feel her relief when she spoke in June about being back in workouts. “I just know that every day I am on the court is a step in the right direction,” she said. “I feel like I am finally getting back to myself, to where I can help the team. It is exciting. This is what I have been working for a long time.”
Geno’s Take and What Cheli Brings
In her return against Syracuse, the redshirt sophomore played 17 minutes, adding one rebound and one assist. Coach Geno Auriemma knows how tough that comeback is, saying, “She’s done a lot of really great stuff, but not having played in a game in a year and a half is probably a little nerve-wracking for her.” Cheli was active, playing at least three minutes in each quarter and dropping five in both the third and fourth. She even found Jana El Alfy in the post for a layup in the second quarter. Even with a couple of fouls in the fourth, she snagged her lone rebound late in the game off a Gandy Malou-Mamel miss. Auriemma’s been impressed with her in practice, even with the missed time, noting her “unique” lengthy 6-foot-2 frame. He highlighted what she brings: “She’s looked really good in practice. She just hasn’t been out there enough. … I think having Morgan play well takes a lot of pressure off of Sarah (Strong), you know, because she’s got the right size and the right ball-handling skills that can get us out of trouble, and the right passing skills. So now it’s just a matter of finding that comfort level, and that’s just going to take time.”
UConn kicks off their 2026-27 season on November 2, hosting Cornell. That game will mark 631 days since Cheli last played. It’s all about finding that comfort level now, and you know every Husky fan is ready to watch her do it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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