Alissa Pili is a WNBA rookie with the Minnesota Lynx. She has become the latest Nike N7 athlete.
N7 is an initiative of the brand. It aims to support and collaborate with Native American and Indigenous communities. The project works to increase equity on the court.
“I’m so honored to join the Nike Family as an N7 athlete. Representation is important to me, and I look forward to making an impact in the league and demonstrating to all the Indigenous and Polynesian girls who love the game, that they can reach their dreams.”
- Alissa Pili
The Lynx picked Pili as the No. 8 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Alissa Pili played basketball at Dimond High School in Anchorage, Alaska. She was a three-time Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year there. She also received the "Pride of Alaska" award from the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame during her time at Dimond. Pili holds the Alaska state record with 2,614 career points.
Pili also participated in volleyball, shot put, and discus. She won 13 state titles in various sports.
Pili played college basketball at the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of Utah. She received many accolades at Utah, including First Team All-Conference honors and All-Pac-12 First Team. She was the leading scorer in her senior year. She earned the title of Pac-12 Player of the Year as a junior. At USC, she was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
Pili has a sports career with lots of Indigenous and Polynesian fans, thanks to her Iñupiat and Samoan heritage. Over 100 Samoan fans attended her Lynx home opener. She collaborated with AAPI designer Jason Vu for the 2024 WNBA Draft. They created a tribal-print dress highlighting her Polynesian heritage.
Nike announced Pili's addition to its N7 roster. Pili met with Phoenix's Native American and Indigenous communities on June 7, a day before her birthday. This will happen post the Lynx vs Phoenix Mercury game. Pili and her parents have also received invites from Gila River Indian Community's Governor, Stephen Roe Lewis. Dignitaries such as Robert Miguel, Mikah Carl, and Sam Hill will also be present at the event in honor of Alissa.
The Lynx currently have a 7-2 season record. Pili's average is 3.6 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. This is her performance in the first seven minutes of her WNBA career.