“My dress for the WNBA draft was a representation of my Polynesian culture,” the now Lynx star Alissa Pili had revealed about her WNBA draft outfit. Naturally, she was all enthusiastic about being drafted as the eighth overall pick in the W and her planning for the dress proves it. However, as the season progressed, the Alaska-born came to terms with the fact that she wouldn’t be a part of the core Lynx group in most games. This certainly would have disappointed her but the veterans including Napheesa Collier cheered her up.

In Saturday’s interview with SBNation, Pili shared her experience of being a W rookie and what she went through throughout the year. “The biggest thing was me finding my footing with where I stand on the team and what I can do to contribute if I’m not going to be out there on the floor all the time… Nobody wants somebody who’s just taking energy from the team and being pissed off that they’re on the bench,” Pili stated.

Pili, during her final season with Utah, averaged 21.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Therefore she was used to being the alpha for the team. However, that changed instantly when she came to the Lynx. Though she played 22 games in the regular season, the 23-year-old could only ply her trade for 6.3 minutes per game. And this surely would have come as a difficult pill to swallow.

“I may not be ready to compete consistently at a high level in the league yet, but the fact that I had that game, and have had moments where I have done well, has given me hope and confidence moving forward,” Pili admitted. However, what gave back her confidence was that the Utah-alum performed exceptionally well against the Phoenix Mercury during a regular season game in June. In the 15 minutes she played, Pili scored 20 points with 4 rebounds and a cent percent three-pointers. The credit for her sparks of brilliance should go to Collier & Co. who have been supportive of her journey.

“The vets have helped me a lot, because some of them were like, ‘Pili don’t even worry about it, I wasn’t playing a minute in the whole season when I was a rookie. They just let me know my time is coming,” she concluded. Pili had revealed in one of her interviews that she formed a close bond with the vets. When she arrived at the Lynx, she would Google their highlights and playing styles which helped her a lot in adjusting to the team. Therefore, it is no surprise that a humble Phee and her squad helped Pili, who now must be in the locker room with the Lynx’s roster, who are ready to take on the Liberty for their fifth WNBA title. Meanwhile, Pili had previously too revealed her interactions with her seniors.

Alissa Pili thanks Napheesa Collier and Courtney Williams

When Pili joined the team for the training camp, she admitted to being “shy, I’ve been timid a lot of the time,” in an interview with No Cap Space WBB. However, as time went on, she opened up to her teammates. And the one person she credits for her growth is the WNBA’s reigning DPOY. As per her, Collier has provided her the opportunities to open up to her and “have personal conversations about not even basketball sometimes.” However, when it comes to basketball, the other teammates have also been responsive.

Pili divulged that Courtney Williams has especially been warm to her. She has helped her during practice “she’ll let me know something I’m doing that she needs me to do better. And so I feel like, as a collective — all of our all of our vets — they’ve done their best to kind of help me and put me in better positions to succeed.” But it is ultimately Phee who has been closer to her since both are forwards and “I could relate to her more.”

Hopefully, Pili will enchant once she starts getting more time in the W. Till then, she can prep to cheer for her teammates as they look to demolish the Liberty in their quest for their fifth W title.