With the Minnesota Lynx having locked up the No. 2 seed for the WNBA playoffs, the team sat two starters for the regular-season finale Thursday night.

That created a next woman up opportunity and Alissa Pili answered the call.

The rookie forward from Anchorage played a season-high 22 minutes, won a jump ball and registered her second-highest scoring game with eight points on 3-of-7 shooting in a 68-51 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks in Minneapolis.

She added two rebounds, two steals and carded a plus-1 rating on a night when her team lost by 17.

Pili, the eighth pick in this year’s draft, heard a huge roar from the crowd of 8,000 at the Target Center when she checked in late in the first quarter. Despite playing sparingly this season, she was ready to go and won a battle for a loose ball shortly after getting on the court.

Pili made her first shot attempt after rattling in a 3-pointer from the top of the key to the delight of the home fans.

“I think the crowd willed that one in for her,” said the Bally Sports commentator.

Two minutes later she earned a trip to the free-throw and split a pair of attempts. Pili’s four points powered an 8-2 run that pulled the Lynx within 34-24 after trailing by as many as 16.

Moments later, she tipped in an inbounds pass that led to a Minnesota fastbreak and more free throws as the team pulled even closer.

This was Pili’s 56th game since Nov. 6, dating back to her senior season at the University of Utah. She went from college directly to the WNBA in a seemingly never-ending season that is 318 days and counting.

But if Pili was tired, she didn’t show it Thursday as she showcased two vintage post moves in the second half, including a beautiful dribble-drive layup she converted with a defender draped all over her and the shot clock winding down.

Q3 PILI. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/BB0Uv7wIsU

— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) September 20, 2024

We saw the hustle and customary muscle. She was called for an offensive foul on a screen after a Los Angeles player bounced off the Alaskan and fell to the ground. Pili was incredulous with the call and flashed a wry smile.

In the fourth quarter, she grabbed two rebounds, made a steal and won a jump ball against former UConn standout Kia Nurse.

It’s been quite the last six days in sports for the Pili family:

• 9/14: Colony High running back Keoni Pili plowed his way for a 1-yard touchdown and finished with 36 yards against East.
• 9/15: Dimond High quarterback Cayden Pili amassed 171 yards and four TDs against South.
• 9/16: Second-year NFL defensive tackle Brandon Pili of the Miami Dolphins played a season-high nine snaps against Buffalo.
• 9/19: WNBA rookie Alissa Pili of the Minnesota Lynx scored eight points in a season-high 22 minutes against Los Angeles.