Rising Talent: Alissa Pili’s Journey from Anchorage to the WNBA and the LA Sparks

Alissa Pili’s path from Alaska gyms to the WNBA has been driven by family, culture, and a scorer’s touch that keeps opening doors. The 24-year-old forward, of Samoan and Iñupiaq heritage, has been signed to successive seven-day deals with the Los Angeles Sparks after the Minnesota Lynx waived her on 13 July 2025.

Born on 8 June 2001 in Anchorage, Pili grew up in a tight-knit household that prized both hard work and identity. Her father’s roots trace to the Samoan village of Aua in American Samoa, and her mother is Iñupiaq from Alaska’s North Slope.

Before college, Pili was among the most decorated athletes in Alaska high school history. She lettered in multiple sports and won 13 state titles. In basketball, she became a three-time Gatorade Alaska Girls Basketball Player of the Year at Dimond High and finished with 2,614 career points, which was the state girls’ record at the time.

Pili began her college career at USC and made an immediate impact. As a freshman she averaged 16.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game and was named 2020 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. After injuries and a coaching change, she transferred to Utah and rose again, earning 2023 Pac-12 Player of the Year.

Her final season in Salt Lake City sealed her draft stock. In 2023–24 she averaged 21.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and shot 55 percent from the field for the Utes, earning AP Third-Team All-America honors. The Minnesota Lynx selected her eighth overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Finding minutes on a contending roster proved difficult. Pili’s best outing for Minnesota came on 14 June 2025, when she scored eight points in a win over the Sparks. Minnesota waived her on 13 July as part of midseason roster moves.

Opportunity emerged on the West Coast. The Sparks signed Pili to a seven-day contract on 3 August, then re-signed her on 10 August and again on 17 August. She debuted for Los Angeles on 9 August against the Golden State Valkyries and scored one point in three minutes.

For many Pacific Islander and Indigenous girls, seeing a forward from Anchorage compete on the sport’s biggest domestic stage matters. Pili’s game reflects the same themes that marked her rise in Alaska and Utah: strength, skill, and a clear sense of who she represents.

Why it matters to Samoa and the Pacific

Pili is one of the most visible women’s basketball players with Samoan and Indigenous Alaska heritage. For Pacific youth, seeing that lineage represented at the top tier of the sport carries weight beyond the box score.

For Samoans at home and abroad, her rise echoes the broader visibility of Pacific athletes on global stages, from rugby fields to athletics tracks, and now to women’s basketball.

Explainer: What a seven-day WNBA contract means

• Allowed only in the second half of the season and paid at a prorated minimum salary for seven days.

• Cannot extend past the final day of the regular season.

• A player can sign at most three seven-day contracts with the same team in one season.

• These short-term deals let teams cover injuries or test fit without long commitments.

  
  

Quick timeline

• 14 June 2025 – Eight points for Minnesota vs Los Angeles.

• 13 July 2025 – Minnesota waives Pili.

• 3 August 2025 – Sparks sign Pili to a seven-day deal.

• 9 August 2025 – Sparks debut vs Golden State, one point in three minutes.

• 17 August 2025 – Signs third seven-day contract with Los Angeles.

  
  

Upcoming game (AEST)

• Sat 30 Aug, 12:00 pm – Indiana Fever at Los Angeles Sparks

  • US TV: ION. In Australia: WNBA League Pass. Also check Kayo/ESPN AU listings.

Where to watch

• Australia: WNBA League Pass is available, though some nationally televised games may be subject to blackout. Kayo and ESPN Australia carry selected WNBA games. Check their fixtures pages close to game day.

• New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ holds broadcasting rights for selected WNBA games. All games can be streamed through WNBA League Pass.

• Samoa: Games are available through WNBA League Pass, which can be accessed online. Some matches may also be picked up by regional Pacific broadcasters. Fans should confirm availability with local TV listings.

• Elsewhere: WNBA League Pass is available worldwide and is the most reliable option for fans outside these regions.

  
  

Wherever her next contract takes her, Pili already stands as proof that Pacific and Indigenous athletes belong at the very top of woman's basketball.

References

• USC Trojans bio (freshman honors).

• Gatorade Alaska Girls Basketball Player of the Year (2017–2019).

• MaxPreps feature confirming multi-sport titles and high school accolades.

• University of Utah Athletics: 2023–24 averages and awards.

• AP News: 2023–24 AP All-America Third Team.

• Minnesota Lynx draft release confirming No. 8 pick in 2024.

• Star Tribune and Lynx materials on the July 2025 waiver and June 2025 game note.

• Los Angeles Sparks press release announcing the August 2025 seven-day contract.

• ESPN player page and WNBA game log confirming the August debut and renewals.

• Native American Indigenous Athlete Hall of Fame profile for heritage details.