WNBA DRAFT

April 15, 2024

Alissa Pili

Minnesota Lynx

Q. To go to Minnesota, to go to a place where there have been unconventional bigs, Jessica Shepard recently, Phee does a lot, inside outside, as well, how much do you feel like that is a system that is particularly well-suited for the way you play?

ALISSA PILI: I think it's great because I could do both, and either spot they need me to play that I could just sharpen in that area and get really good and just excel.

Q. You're joining the Minnesota Lynx, Cheryl Reeves, four-time championship coach. How are your feelings about joining a team like that that has amazing players like Napheesa Collier and players like that? Also, what do you bring personally to the Minnesota Lynx?

ALISSA PILI: Yeah, I'm super excited to come in and just learn from players like that. I think that's the fun part about it is we think we've been playing for so long, we know a lot about the game, but there's so much more to learn. I'm just looking forward to that.

I think that I just bring versatility and just a physicality to the game of basketball, and so that's what mostly they'll be seeing from me.

Q. What's one thing you'll miss most about college, and what's the one thing you're looking forward to the most about entering into the league?

ALISSA PILI: Yeah, I think just my teammates and how much time we spent together. I think that's something I'll miss, all the memories and things like that.

Definitely the community in Salt Lake City. I think it's really grown on me the last two years I was there, and I'm going to miss it a lot because even though I came from another Pac-12 school, they still took me with open arms and just supported me throughout everything.

I'm just looking forward to just starting this new journey and hopefully having a great rookie season.

Q. So much is going to be said about what you do on the court, but what do you want people to know about you off the court?

ALISSA PILI: Just that I'm a humble person and somebody who is really for the community and just loves to represent my people. I think I just especially this year just try to tap into representing my culture and just being that inspiration for young kids who look like me and are of my same background.

I just think that impact is something that I'll carry with me to the WNBA, and I just hope that's what people see.

Q. I wanted to ask you what you know about Minnesota and if your teammates Gianna [Kneepkens] and Jenna [Johnson] have told you about what it's going to be like to play here and if you have any knowledge of the history of this franchise.

ALISSA PILI: Yeah, I have a little bit. Gianna and Jenna have talked about Minnesota a lot and just how it is a very basketball-oriented state, and there's been so much rich culture of that there. So I'm excited to see it and experience it.

Q. What should Minnesota Lynx fans expect to get from you on a nightly basis, and who are you most looking forward to playing in the WNBA, as well?

ALISSA PILI: Yeah, I think they'll just get somebody who's a competitor and somebody who has a unique style of play and is just fun to watch.

I'm very excited to just be able to play at the next stage and kind of just improve in areas that I need to to really excel at the next level.

Q. I wonder if you can talk about growing up in Alaska and maybe what are your expectations of going to Minnesota and Minnesota weather compared to that? And maybe as a follow-up, talk about the importance football has had to your family with your brother Brandon and yourself playing growing up and how important that was.

ALISSA PILI: Yeah, growing up in Alaska was great. I would say I loved my childhood. It was just so much fun, camping, fishing, doing a bunch of outdoor stuff, and it's a beautiful state. The only problem I think was just the isolation it had from the rest of the world, and how much it lacked exposure and just sports and things like that. But I wouldn't have had it any other way. I loved my state and carry that with a lot of pride.

I know going to Minnesota the cold probably won't bother me since I'm used to that, but I'm excited to be in a new environment and place.

The football question, that's just played a big part in my life, I think, just kind of building up the physicality I played with. It's helped me a lot with that. Just having an older brother, he plays for the Dolphins now, just kind of looking back on it, how we were literally on the same team and competing against each other, it's cool to see.

We're both very fortunate to be doing what we love at the highest level, and it's just a blessing.