“I truly dreamed of Australia”, Teige Morrell’s journey Down Under
For many, playing in Australia is a dream. But for Teige (nee Zeller) Morrell, it was destiny.
It all started 30 years ago when her father, Marty Zeller, coached in the State Basketball League (now NBL1 West) during the 1990s.
During his time, he met a Zimbabwean fitness instructor, Gael. From two different continents, love found a way on a third, with the pair marrying and having three children. Teige was the third child, born in Dubai and growing up in New Mexico (USA).
“I truly dreamed of Australia, I was like a 13-year-old telling my friends I’m gonna live in Australia one day,” Morrell told WNBL Media.
“That seed was planted from my parents and their stories growing up… It’s been an absolute dream of mine, God always goes above and beyond.”
And ironically, it was Morrell’s basketball journey that led her family back to Australia.
In high school, Morrell won two state Championships and went on to have a stellar collegiate career at Nevada (2014-2018). In her final season, she was named to the All-Mountain West team. And off the court, she met her now husband, David – a highly successful coach in the NBL1 West.
Her fated journey Down Under began in 2019 when she moved to Adelaide and Teige joined the Woodville Warriors in the Premier League (now NBL1 Central). In her debut season, she was named league MVP and All-Star Five, earning a short stint with the Bendigo Spirit as an injury replacement in the 2019-20 season.
Post-pandemic, Morrell signed with the Southern Tigers, winning MVP, Finals MVP, and the inaugural Conference championship.
In 2022, she moved to WA and played two seasons with the Joondalup Wolves, earning back-to-back First Team honours. Her performance led to a WNBL return with the Perth Lynx (2023–2025), reaching both a Grand Final and a Semi Final.
Between Lynx seasons, Teige signed with the NBL1 West’s Lakeside Lightning – becoming a full circle moment as her father, Marty, was signed as head coach. In her first season under her father, Teige won the West MVP – becoming the first cross-conference MVP in NBL1 history.
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With the extended Zeller family reunited in Perth, Australia has truly become home.
Six months after Teige married David, the pair moved to Australia and shared their first apartment. A majority of their marriage has been spent in Australia and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“When the permanent residency came through, it was such a relief. It was such a huge celebration, it was meant to be,” she said.
“I don’t have a desire to go anywhere else, I feel like I’m living the dream.”
With Teige and David securing permanent resident visas in Australia, she is now onto her next WNBL contract – signing with the UC Capitals for the WNBL26 season.
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Set to live in her third state and territory, Morrell told WNBL media she cannot believe her dream of living in Australia would manifest into this.
“My parents met 30 years ago, two hours north of where I am now, it’s just an unreal story,” she said.
“It’s such an incredible country, the people and culture and it’s so beautiful too. And the basketball being as excellent as it is, it’s just the cherry on top.”
With a seven-month relocation ahead of her, Morrell cannot wait to rejoin the WNBL and play alongside the likes of WNBA star Jade Melbourne and a whole collection of front-court stars in Sara Blicavs and fellow NBL1 West player Zitina Aoukso.
“Honestly, I’m looking forward to training. What a group to go to work with every single day. It’s going to be some really fun basketball,” she said.
“Everyone’s talking about the quality of players, but also humans. I’m really excited to get to know everyone and how that unfolds.”
The WNBL26 season starts on October 18th, where the Capitals will face the Southside Flyers.
Stay up-to-date with all the latest signings via the WNBL Roster Tracker here.