Alissa Pili, the younger sister of Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Brandon Pili, was picked with the No. 8 overall selection by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2024 WNBA draft.
In three seasons with the USC Trojans and two with the Utah Utes, Alissa Pili earned All-Pac-12 honors three times and was the Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2023. As a senior, she averaged 21.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists.
With the Lynx she joins a roster led by Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride that finished with a 19-21 record last season.
Dolphins defensive tackle Brandon Pili with supportive message for sister Alissa Pili, drafted by Minnesota Lynx tonight. pic.twitter.com/Kv4CcPlRxR
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) April 16, 2024
Pili’s brother, Brandon, spent his collegiate career at USC and signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2023. When he made the 53-man roster later that year, he became the first native Alaskan on an NFL’s regular season roster in nearly a decade.
The Dolphins later waived Pili in November and re-signed him to their practice squad where he stayed for the remainder of the year. In January, Pili was signed by Miami to a reserve/futures contract.
