Alissa Pili: The Polynesian Alaskan inspiring young people in the WNBA!

Alissa Pili was born in Anchorage, Alaska, and was drafted eighth overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx, becoming the sixth Alaskan to be drafted into the WNBA. 

The Alaska Public website reports Pili now shares the record as the highest overall pick in the WNBA Draft for an Alaskan, joining teammate Ruthy Hebard, who was taken eighth in the 2020 Draft by the Chicago Sky. 

After a highly successful high school career, where she was a three-time Alaskan Gatorade Player of the Year, Pili joined the USC Trojans for three seasons before playing her final two college years in Utah. 

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According to CBS, Pili averaged 12.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game with USC and then skyrocketed to 21.1 points in Utah, driving her draft stock up immeasurably. 

She was named All-Pac 12 this season, as well as Third-Team All-American. Pili was the Pac 12 Player of the Year for the 2022-2023 season and Pac 12 Rookie of the Year in 2020. 

The new Lynx forward is of Polynesian descent, and she has made it her duty to become a role model for Samoan and indigenous people to strive for excellence. 

Since college, Pili has attracted a cult following of indigenous people to her games. Her mother, Heather Pili, believes it's amazing and emotional what her daughter is doing. 

According to the New York Times, her mother said: "It gives a lot of hope to all of the natives in America. It's amazing to see. It's hard to describe being in that environment and seeing the crowds that she's drawing. It's pretty emotional."

For the WNBA Draft, Pili wore a dress that showcased her Samoan culture, using Samoan designs on the skirt and slits on her leg and shoulder to show off her tribal tattoos.

During the draft, Pili said: "A lot of Indigenous and Polynesian girls don't get to see that role model, and I'm just so blessed to be in the position to be that for them. I'm representing them with pride. I had to include the tribal in my dress."

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MPR News reports around 500 people of Samoan descent live in Minnesota, with over 100 coming to watch her play in her home debut against the Seattle Storm on May 18th.

Faamati Winey, the council for Samoans in Minnesota, said: "This is a huge deal for us. It is the first time a professional women's basketball player has been Samoan. Opening day is a perfect time for our community to support her."

The opening two games of her WNBA career have been perfect, picking up two wins from two against the Seattle Storm in both games. 

ESPN reports Fili played ten minutes in her first game, grabbing one rebound before scoring five points and hauling down two rebounds in her first home opener. 

Pili is already one of the most decorated athletes in Alaskan history, winning ten state championships in five sports and recently named the Women's Pride of Alaska award winner for the second year in a row.

Alissa Pili's story is beyond basketball, and her mission is more than winning championships in the WNBA. Can her story inspire more Polynesian and Alaskan kids to take on a career in professional sports?

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