GEELONG Venom has signed a former Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) top 10 draft pick ahead of the coming Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL).
The Venom has secured the signature of Alissa Pili for the 2025-2026 campaign.
Born in the Alaskan city of Anchorage, Pili was selected with pick eight in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx after a record-breaking senior year at the University of Utah.
During her time at Utah, she set the club’s single season scoring record with 727 points, eclipsed 2,000 points and was named Pac-12 Player of the Year.
The versatile 5’11 forward averaged 21.4 points per game on 55 per cent shooting from the field and 40 per cent from three, becoming the fastest player in Utah history to reach 1,000 points, and doing it in just 48 games.
Pili, the first Polynesian player in WNBA history, joins the Venom following her most recent stint with the Los Angeles Sparks.
“I’m super excited to be playing in Geelong this season,” Pili said.
“I’ve heard incredible things about the team’s culture and coaching staff, and I feel like I’ll fit perfectly with their style of play.
“I lead by example, I push and encourage my teammates, and I’ll do whatever it takes to win—that’s what I’m bringing to the Venom.”
Geelong Venom head coach Chris Lucas said he had followed Pili’s college career and had been chasing her for the better part of two years.
“She’s an elite scorer both from the perimeter and the post, she has incredible offensive footwork, and she just thrives under pressure.
“Alissa set records at Utah, electrified the Pac-12 with back-to-back 37-point performances against top-ranked teams, and in her rookie WNBA season showed what she can do at the pro level with a 20-point, perfect-from-deep burst in just 15 minutes.
“I am extremely pleased that she’s made the decision to come and play in Geelong.
“She’s exactly the type of player who can help take this team forward.”
