Last Updated on August 12, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Alissa Pili stands out for her unique combination of strength, footwork, and scoring touch, allowing her to create difficult matchup problems for defenders. Whether operating in the post or stepping out to the perimeter, she has consistently found ways to score efficiently and make her presence felt.

Here is detailed information about Alissa Pili:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Alissa Pili
  • Nationality: American (of Samoan descent)
  • Date of Birth: June 8, 2001
  • Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm)
  • Weight: 220 lbs (100 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 3 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 12 (US)
  • Number: Wears #35 (Minnesota Lynx)
  • Position: Forward
  • High School: Dimond High School (Anchorage, Alaska)
  • College:
    • University of Southern California (2019–2022)
    • University of Utah (2022–Present)
  • WNBA Draft: Eighth overall, 2024 WNBA Draft by Minnesota Lynx
  • Teams Played For: None (college athlete)
  • Championship Rings: None (as of now)
  • Kids: None
  • Siblings: Comes from a large family; has multiple siblings, including Brandon Pili, who plays football at the collegiate level.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Alissa Pili projects as a scoring-first combo forward whose game is built on power, touch, and efficiency rather than pure length or vertical pop. Defensively, she has typically been asked to hold her ground in the frontcourt, battle on the glass, and survive with positioning and strength, though some evaluators have questioned how smoothly that end of the floor will translate against faster pro matchups. Offensively, her value comes from being a versatile bucket-getter: she can score on the block, face up from mid-range, draw fouls, and stretch defenses when her three-point shot is falling, which made her one of the most productive and efficient forwards in college basketball. Physically, Pili stands 6-foot-2 with a strong, sturdy frame and the kind of balance that lets her dislodge defenders and finish through contact. In full, her style is that of a skilled, physical forward who pressures defenses with shot-making and mismatch scoring, while relying on toughness and feel more than traditional center size or wing quickness. (Deseret News)

Scouting Report

I’ve always thought Alissa Pili is one of those scorers who wins with leverage rather than speed. She has an exceptional feel for using her body to create just enough separation, whether she’s sealing a defender deep in the post, backing smaller players into uncomfortable positions or attacking a closeout with a controlled shoulder before finishing through contact. Her footwork is advanced, and that’s what makes her difficult to guard. Defenders often anticipate power, then get caught by a quick spin, a shot fake or a soft touch around the rim instead. The interesting thing is that she’s a better passer than she’s often given credit for because she doesn’t panic when double teams arrive. She keeps her dribble alive, waits for the second defender to fully commit and finds cutters or shooters with simple, accurate reads rather than forcing difficult cross-court passes. Defensively, Pili relies on positioning and anticipation more than recovery speed. She understands angles, boxes out consistently and rotates early enough to discourage interior finishes, particularly when she’s allowed to defend closer to the basket instead of chasing quicker forwards around the perimeter. That’s where the trade-off appears. Teams that spread the floor with constant movement and force repeated switches can pull her into uncomfortable defensive possessions, and she’s unlikely to create easy offense by simply blowing past long, athletic defenders in isolation. To me, the ideal role is as a skilled scoring forward in an offense that values inside-out basketball, where she can punish mismatches on the block, operate from the elbows and make quick decisions once help arrives instead of living beyond the arc. Her ability to draw extra defenders also creates opportunities that don’t always show up in the box score because the ball often moves one more pass after her initial read. There are shades of Dearica Hamby in the way she uses strength and touch to score from multiple interior spots, while parts of her offensive craft resemble Alysha Clark, particularly her efficiency, patience and understanding of how to exploit defensive positioning without relying on overwhelming athletic advantages. — Mat Diekhake, HeatingUp

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