MINNEAPOLIS — Alissa Pili is used to being a star — the Minnesota Lynx rookie has effectively dominated every level of basketball since she was a kid.
As a freshman at the University of Southern California, she averaged 16.3 points per game, and in her final season at her University of Utah, she was one of the most efficient high-volume scorers in the country, averaging 21.4 points per game on 55% shooting, and shooting 40.4% from three.
Pili was drafted No. 8 by the Lynx in April. And, like many first-year players, her on-court opportunities have been limited; she appeared in 22 games during the 2024 season, averaging 2.4 points in 6.3 minutes per outing.
Going from college star to predominantly riding the bench hasn’t come without its challenges.
“It’s definitely taken a toll on me mentally,” Pili told SB Nation. “I’ve never been in this position before, and my coach knows that.”
But, thanks to the unique connection and camaraderie in the Lynx locker room, and unwavering support from Cheryl Reeve and the coaching staff, Pili has found her footing.
“To find ways to help the team and impact the team — not only on the court — was the biggest thing for me to learn,” Pili said. “And then, still being in good communication with my coach and the team and talking to them about where my head’s at and any struggle that I go through.”
Now, Pili is headed to Game 5 of the WNBA Finals, and while she’s only checked in once in this postseason, the 23-year-old is thoroughly enjoying the journey of being apart of on one of the best teams in the world and learning from her more veteran teammates.
“There’s not a lot of rookies that get to be in this position I’m in, and the fact that our team is so successful has been really fun to be a part of,” Pili said. “It’s just been a very great learning experience. I’m trying to soak everything in.”
Cheryl Reeve has said on a number of occasions that she realized her team was uniquely connected since the second day of training camp. Courtney Williams has gushed about how much she’s loved the Lynx in her first season in Minneapolis, and Napheesa Collier has repeatedly expressed how special this particular group is.
Alissa Pili has shared those sentiments since she arrived to training camp just a few weeks after the conclusion of her college season.
“Something that kind of caught me off guard was honestly just how well this team clicked together so fast,” Pili said. “I’ve seen it from college — any team who goes and just grabs a whole bunch of new players, it’s super hard to build that chemistry and be good right away. Coach Cheryl did that pretty quickly. And I was like, ‘dang, that’s kind of crazy.’”
Pili, who grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, said she prioritizes connection and community. So, the fact that she felt so embraced by the locker room, and hit it off with her teammates right away, was particularly meaningful.
“I’m a big family person, so that’s a value that I bring into what I’m doing,” Pili said. “My job is playing basketball, and that’s a quality that I bring to my team. I like to be surrounded by that.”
But, rather than sulk at the limited on-court opportunities, she has embraced finding her voice in the locker room and being a positive spirit on the bench, and around the team.
“The biggest thing was me finding my footing with where I stand on the team and what I can do to contribute if I’m not going to be out there on the floor all the time,” Pili said. “Nobody wants somebody who’s just taking energy from the team and being pissed off that they’re on the bench.”
There was one on-court this season that gave Pili a peek into what her future in the WNBA might look like, a May 31st game against the Phoenix Mercury in which she exploded for 20 points on 7-9 shooting in just 15 minutes of action.
In that outing, she made all 4 of her three-point attempts, showcasing a glimpse of how her game could translate at the professional level.
“It definitely just gives me confidence,” Pili said. “I may not be ready to compete consistently at a high level in the league yet, but the fact that I had that game, and have had moments where I have done well, has given me hope and confidence moving forward.”
For now, staying positive about limited playing time hasn’t been too difficult, simply because the experience of being a Lynx has been so enjoyable.
“The vets have helped me a lot, because some of them were like, ‘Pili don’t even worry about it, I wasn’t playing a minute in the whole season when I was a rookie,’” Pili said. “They just let me know my time is coming.”
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