Franklin is a five-time Olympic gold medalist while Pili, a senior at Utah, is now being mentioned in WNBA Draft talk.
Pili's journey from Alaska to USC and now to a starring role for the Utes is not surprising. She was a four-sport state champion at Dimond and her play this season has seen her WNBA stock rising.
"If I just continue to work hard, everything will work out all right," Pili told MaxPreps in 2019.
And thus far it has.
Before Alissa Pili was being mentioned in WNBA draft talk, the Dimond standout was a two-time MaxPreps Female Athlete of the Year. She's now starring at the University of Utah and mock drafts have her possibly going 10th. (Photo: Jules Karney)
Pili
chose the Trojans out of high school and spent three seasons in Southern California, winning
Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors. She transferred to Utah in 2022-23 to
rediscover her love for the game, earning Pac-12 Player of the Year
honors last season.
This year as a senior, Pili is averaging 22.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per night for the 11-4 Utes.
At
Dimond, she won four volleyball state titles, two basketball
championships, four shot put crowns and two in the discus and added a
wrestling victory on top. A two-time MaxPreps All-American in basketball,
she holds the Class 4A state scoring record with 2,614
points.
"If I'm a WNBA GM, there's no doubt in my mind that kid can play in the WNBA," Utes associated head coach Gavin Petersen
told the Deseret News after she dropped 37 in a December loss to South Carolina. "She's a winner, she's an assassin in between the lines and she's a great teammate."
"Utmost respect for Pili. I mean, Utah, I hope we don't see them in the tournament and whoever does get to see them, good luck to you," South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley told the Associated Press.
WNBA mock drafts have Pili going as high as 10th to the Connecticut Sun should she decide not to return to Utah for a fifth season.
Utah's Alissa Pili is averaging 22.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per night for the 11-4 Utes. A two-time MaxPreps basketball All-American, she also holds the state Class 4A basketball scoring record with 2,614 points. (Photo: Jules Karney)
