Here is where Alissa Pili got picked in the WNBA Draft

Former Utah women’s basketball star Alissa Pili is headed to Minnesota.

The Lynx picked Pili at No. 8 in the 2024 WNBA Draft on Monday. She was on site in Brooklyn to hear her name called and hug WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

“I’m just super excited to come in and just learn from players like [Napheesa Collier],” Pili said. “I think that’s the fun part about it. We think that we’ve been playing so long, we know a lot about the game, but there’s so much more to learn. I’m just looking forward to that.

“I think that I just bring versatility and just physicality to the game of basketball. So that’s what, mostly, they’ll be seeing from me.”

Pili was on site at the draft with members of her family and Utes coach Lynne Roberts. She wore a dress that exposed the tribal tattoos on her shoulder and leg, and that also featured tribal print on the skirt. She’s talked about how much she feels like a role model for indigenous and Polynesian girls.

“I think I’ve, especially this year, just tried to tap into representing my culture and just being that inspiration for young kids who look like me and are of my same background,” Pili said. “I think that impact is something that I’ll carry with me to the WNBA. I just hope that’s something people see.”

Pili had a breakout senior season with the Utes. She averaged 21.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists. She shot 40.4% from the 3-point line as a player who technically played a frontcourt position.

Pili spent her first three college seasons at USC. She transferred to Utah before the 2022-23 season.

PIli said she will greatly miss her Utes teammates. She also said the Salt Lake City community grew on her over the two years she was there.

“Even though I came from another Pac-12 school, they still took me with open arms and just supported me throughout everything,” Pili said.

Pili is the seventh former Ute to be drafted into the WNBA. The other six were Shona Thorburn, Kim Gaucher, Leilani Mitchell, Morgan Warburton, Michelle Plouffe and Megan Huff.

WNBA Top 10 picks

1. Indiana Fever — Caitlin Clark

2. Los Angeles Sparks — Cameron Brink

3. Chicago Sky — Kamilla Cardoso

4. Los Angeles Sparks — Rickea Jackson

5. Dallas Wings — Jacy Sheldon

6. Washington Mystics — Aaliyah Edwards

7. Chicago Sky — Angel Reese

8. Minnesota Lynx — Alissa Pili

9. Dallas Wings — Carla Leite

10. Connecticut Sun — Leïla Lacan

This story will be updated.