Alissa Pili is no longer a member of the Minnesota Lynx. The 24-year-old was waived by the reigning WNBA runners-up right in the middle of a road trip.
She will have to find her own way home.
Pili was selected with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. There were a lot of questions about the 5-foot-11 forward’s ability to translate as a professional given the height of her opponents but her collegiate accolades speak for themselves. The 2020 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year was later named as the Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2023 and also received an All-American nod in 2024.
However, Alissa Pili never quite figured it out as a pro in limited on-court opportunities on a veteran team. She averaged just 6.3 minutes per game as a rookie. She averaged 5.9 in 14 games this season.
The Lynx ultimately decided to move on as a result of the low usage and lack of production. It was unfortunate timing.
Alissa Pili is out.
The good news is that Pili will be free to sign with whatever team she chooses as a free agent if she clears waivers. The bad news is that the Lynx cut her loose while they are in Chicago for at least four days. They essentially left her on the tarmac like Lane Kiffin.
Minnesota traveled south on Friday for a game on Saturday. The Lynx lost to the Sky on Saturday afternoon. They will get a chance for revenge with a rematch on Monday. Thus, the team will just stay in Chicago.
Alissa Pili will not. She was sent home after getting waived immediately after the game. Her keycard at the hotel won’t work. She went straight to the airport to get on the next flight back to Minnesota. (Maybe they let her sleep one more night in her already-booked room?)
Here’s the thing. The Lynx’s decision to cut Pili leaves an open spot on the roster. It’s not like her ouster was out of necessity in this current moment. And yet, the team decided to cut her immediately after the game instead of waiting until they all got home together on Tuesday. Ruthless!