Alissa Pili has played in 19 of her 41 career WNBA games last summer. Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Sparks
The WNBA ain’t done with Alissa Pili.
The 25-year-old moved closer to getting back on the court in the world’s greatest women’s basketball league on Sunday, when the Los Angeles Sparks announced they have signed Pili to a player development contract.
This will be her second stint with the Sparks after finishing last season with the team and reuniting with bench boss Lynne Roberts, who coached her at the University of Utah, where Pili was a two-time All-American in 2023 and 2024.
“Alissa has a unique combination of strength, skill and touch that makes her an intriguing player to continue developing,” Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley said in a statement.
The 2024 first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Lynx has appeared in 41 career WNBA games, including five with Los Angeles. In those first two seasons, she piled up totals of 96 points, 46 rebounds, eight assists and seven steals.
WNBA teams can carry two developmental roster spots, and these players practice, receive stipends and benefits, and can be activated for up to 12 games, giving Pili a chance to move up Alaska’s all-time list for WNBA appearances.
WNBA
Most games by Alaskan CAREER
222 – Jessica Moore 2005-2013
164 – Kelsey Griffin 2010-2014
95 – Ruthy Hebard 2020-2023
46 – Andrea Lloyd 1999-2000
41 – Alissa Pili 2024-2025
3 – Molly Tuter 1997
“She can score inside and out, has a tremendous feel for the game and already has familiarity with our organization,” Pebley said. “We’re excited to continue investing in her growth.”
The 5-foot-11 power forward has averaged 5.8 minutes per game in her career, but when she logs double digits in minutes – like she has done 10 times – her scoring average jumps to 5.8 points per game, including a career-high 20 points.
Pili, of Dimond High fame, played in Australia’s WNBL over the winter and missed two months with an ankle injury. She averaged 13 points in eight games for the Geelong Venom, highlighted by her 28-point performance.
The Alaskan has also played in Athletes Unlimited, averaging 11.1 points in 21 games against some of the best players in the world, another sign that Pili has a place in pro hoops.
She also has a good track record in Los Angeles, where she played her first three seasons of college basketball with the USC Trojans and was the 2020 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
