Alexis Morris, who won the 2023 NCAA title with the LSU Tigers, is walking back comments she made criticizing WNBA veterans after they landed her in hot water on social media.

After an unforgettable performance at LSU culminating in the first basketball national championship for the program, Alexis Morris was chosen No. 22 overall by the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA draft this year.

But WNBA preseason is no joke. Of 12 teams in the league with a maximum of 12 players, there is a cap of 144 roster spots available each season. So it becomes incredibly hard for rookies like Morris to secure a spot.

Just 15 of the 36 players selected in April’s draft made an opening-day roster this year. As the preseason ended, the second-round 2023 WNBA draft pick was among those who fell victim to roster cuts earlier this month, waived by the Connecticut Sun on May 10.

A week later, as teams continued to cut rookies upon the start of the regular season, Morris took to Twitter to vent her frustration, the basis of which stemmed from the number of veterans she implied was taking up spots on teams.

During her rant, the former LSU women’s basketball national champion stated that if teams don’t have spots on their roster that they should “cut the vets.” Morris also called out older WNBA players for remaining in the league too long and not passing the torch to the next generation, presumably herself.

“The vets gotta know when to cut the net, and pass the torch, bro,” the 5-foot-6 guard wrote.

“If you knocking at 35, hang it up, and I mean WIRED HANGER ‘Hang it up,'” Morris penned in another tweet.

The backlash from WNBA players came harsh and swift. Among them was Los Angeles Sparks guard Lexie Brown.

“It’s clear people don’t understand how much we respect people’s journeys and the grind,” she tweeted.

Longtime WNBA veteran Kayla McBride also joined the conversation.

“Don’t speak on someone else to make yourself feel better,” she wrote. “We all got stories. Just go write yours.”

“As a whole, the WNBA (is) fighting for respect, and each of our stories looks different. And should be respected,” she continued.

“Respect the grind. Respect those around you. It’ll get you a long, long way,” McBride added.

The response prompted Morris to return to Instagram with a public apology on Thursday: “To the veterans of the WNBA, please accept my sincerest apologies,” she wrote on Instagram. “I never thought joining the W family would be easy, but now I understand just how hard it is to do that.”

She also acknowledged her misplaced anger.

“My energy would have been better served directed toward league executives who have a say in expansion and other logistics,” Morris added.

“I look forward to celebrating your individual and collective careers and giving you all the flowers you deserve. I hope you can empathize and find it in your hearts to forgive me. I will continue to work hard in hopes of joining you all one day soon,” the WNBA rookie continued.

Yet to sign with a new professional team, the basketball player also apologized to WNBA fans, asking for forgiveness as well as support for the league as it grapples with its roster size dilemma.

“To fans of the WNBA, I apologize to you as well. Please don’t let this mistake be a representation of our league or as an indictment against my character moving forward. I ask for your forgiveness and support as I attempt to raise more awareness about some of the issues the league is facing,” she penned. “It needs your support now more than ever. While I’m one of many to be affected by recent cuts, I understand that the issue is bigger than me.”

Before making the jump to the WNBA, Morris began her career with Kim Mulkey at Baylor five years ago, initially dismissed from the team but later reunited with the coach at LSU. The 5-foot-6 Morris helped LSU to its first NCAA national title in April with a decisive win over the Iowa Hawkeyes alongside teammate Angel Reese. She averaged 15.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in her two years with the Tigers.

During the Connecticut Sun training camp, Morris shared her thoughts on the difficult transition from college to professional basketball, urging university coaches to better prepare their players as the style of play in college can help or hurt you upon joining the WNBA.

@luthorrrrr

First day as a #connecticutsun ! Here’s my take away from my personal experiences! #fyp #beapromovement #fyp #womensbasketball

♬ original sound – Alexis Morris

“This is for the colleges and institutions: In order to grow the league, you have to prep the players for what’s to come,” Morris said. “In order to do that, you have to watch the league, you have to see the style of play, the systems that they’re running so that the adjustment and the transition for women college players to the WNBA won’t be so difficult.”

While her comments may have been misguided, they do have a basis. Per Just Women’s Sports, many players continue to call for expansion and further aiding the college-to-professional pipeline. The feeling is that the current talent is outpacing roster capacity.

As WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike wrote on Twitter, “A whole league is training at home…”

The hope is that while fans forgive Morris for her comments in the heat of the moment, the movement for expansion to accommodate fresh talent like herself continues growing in an effort to finally see change.

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