Alissa Pili, sister of Miami Dolphins’ Brandon Pili, selected in first round of WNBA Draft

<div><figure> <img alt="WNBA: Draft" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/k7o7JCHvaSA-CCv2MBHbkSOWre0=/0x0:5819x3879/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73282201/usa_today_23033251.0.jpg"> <figcaption>Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption> </figure> <p>Miami Dolphins’ defensive tackle Brandon Pili is not the only professional athlete in his family as sister Alissa was selected in the first round of the WNBA on Monday. Congratulations to her!</p> <p id="PNDnkK">The <a href="https://www.swishappeal.com/">WNBA</a> Draft was completed on Monday night, with 36 players selected across the 12 teams in the league. The big story of the day was the Indiana Fever, with the first pick in the draft, adding Iowa star Caitlin Clark. We also saw a trade on Sunday that moved the Chicago Sky up one spot, from eight to seven, where they selected Angel Reese. The eighth overall pick is why a <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a> team site is talking about the WNBA Draft, however.</p> <p id="xpOmTg">The Minnesota Lynx, following the trade with the Sky, used the eighth pick to select Utah forward Alissa Pili. A two-time Second-Team All-American and 2023 Pac-12 Player of the Year, Pili spent two seasons at Utah after a three-year stint at USC. She finished with a five-year average of 16.9 points per game, 6.1 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game, a 51.9 percent field goal conversion, and a 34.4 percent three-point rate.</p> <p id="dEp0MF">Pili is also the sister of Dolphins defensive tackle Brandon Pili. The older brother was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dolphins in 2023 out of USC. He initially made the roster for Miami, but landed on the practice squad mid-way through the campaign. He re-signed to the team for the 2024 season. </p> <p id="SNdEHC">Brandon shared two pictures of his sister to his Instagram story:</p> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/putDZ-_nWpm8npkojUCQqizgGWw=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25400535/Capture2.PNG"> </figure> <figure class="e-image"> <img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_d4ZRcCgItCy4S4EaYQYJbnI5pA=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25400536/Capture.PNG"> </figure> <p id="kncAX4">Congratulations to Alissa and good luck in your rookie season!</p> <div id="JCbklr"><div style="left: 0;width: 100%;height: 0;position: relative;padding-bottom: 56.25%"></div></div></div>