Alissa Pili Siblings: A Look at the WNBA Player’s Family Tree

Alissa Pili is an American professional basketball player making waves in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) as a forward for the Minnesota Lynx.

Born on June 8, 2001, in Anchorage, Alaska, to Heather and Billy Pili, she is of Samoan and Inupiaq descent, proudly representing her Indigenous and Polynesian heritage.

Pili’s athletic journey began early, playing football as the only girl in her league from third to eighth grade and picking up basketball at age eight.

A standout multi-sport athlete at Dimond High School, she transitioned to a stellar college career at USC and the University of Utah before being drafted eighth overall by the Lynx in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Siblings

Alissa comes from a large, athletic family with nine siblings, though two have gained particular recognition in sports, her older brothers Brandon Pili and Braydon Pili.

Brandon, born on April 1, 1999, in Anchorage, Alaska, is a defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins in the NFL.

After starring at Dimond High School alongside Alissa, he played college football at USC from 2017 to 2022, earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors in his senior year.

Undrafted in 2023, Brandon signed with the Dolphins and has since appeared in 12 games, recording four tackles by the end of the 2024 season.

Braydon, another older brother, played college football as a linebacker at Dixie State (now Utah Tech University) in 2021 and later at BYU in 2023, though injuries limited his career trajectory.

Career

Pili’s career is a testament to her versatility and determination.

At Dimond High School, she dominated multiple sports, leading her basketball team to two state championships and setting the Alaska Class 4A all-time scoring record with 2,614 points.

Rated a five-star recruit by ESPN, she committed to USC, where she played from 2019 to 2022.

As a freshman, she averaged 16.3 points and eight rebounds per game, but injuries and inconsistent roles saw her stats dip in subsequent seasons, prompting a transfer to Utah for her final two years of eligibility (2022-2024).

At Utah, Pili flourished, leading the Pac-12 in scoring (20.7 points per game) and field goal percentage (.590) in the 2022-23 season, and guiding the Utes to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2023.

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Selected eighth overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Pili debuted on May 14, 2024, against the Seattle Storm.

Her rookie season highlight came on May 31, 2024, when she scored a season-high 20 points off the bench against the Phoenix Mercury, becoming the fourth WNBA rookie to score 20+ points with 4+ three-pointers at 75%+ field goal accuracy.

Averaging 2.4 points and 1.2 rebounds across 22 games in 2024, she continues to develop under coach Cheryl Reeve.

Pili also signed to play in the 2025 Athletes Unlimited season, showcasing her commitment to growth as a professional.

Accolades

Pili’s trophy case reflects her extraordinary talent across high school, college, and her emerging pro career.

At Dimond High School, she was a three-time Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year (2017-19), a two-time MaxPreps Female High School Athlete of the Year (2018-19), and won 13 state titles across basketball, volleyball, shot put, discus, and wrestling.

She also earned the “Pride of Alaska” award from the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame.

In college, Pili’s freshman year at USC saw her named the 2020 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and an All-Pac-12 Team member.

At Utah, she elevated her game, earning the 2023 Pac-12 Player of the Year title, First Team All-Pac-12 honors (2023, 2024), and Second Team All-American recognition from the AP and USBWA in 2023 and 2024.

She was also selected to the WBCA Coaches’ All-America Team in 2024.

In the WNBA, her standout rookie performance against Phoenix marked her as a rising star, while her inclusion in the 2024 USA Basketball 3×3 Women’s National Team development camp hints at her international potential.

Off the court, Pili’s Nike N7 endorsement in June 2024 celebrates her Indigenous roots, amplifying her influence as a cultural icon alongside her siblings’ athletic legacies.