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Disrupt the Status Quo
2/8/2023 1:52 PM | Women's Basketball
She just finished her third workout of the day. Nothing "too crazy." Just weights in the morning, a full practice with the team and then a cycling session as a chaser. She feels great as she casually eats a post-post-post workout apple – Honeycrisp, of course.
It's only noon.
Alissa Pili is no stranger to hard work or success – she was a thirteen-time state champion (basketball, volleyball and track & field) in high school back home in Alaska. She was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year at USC in 2019-20, but when she transferred to the University of Utah this past off-season, she simply needed to make some changes.
Alissa has always been a really good player. She averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds as a freshman at USC. She put up numbers and had moments of brilliance, but her stats steadily declined over her next two seasons. It certainly wasn't a lack of skill – she has that in spades.
"I developed some bad habits and wasn't taking care of myself as best as I could," she says.
Pili admittedly talks about always being a "bigger athlete" and knew that a new perspective and focus on her health could make the difference and take her game to another level. She knew she needed to change her status quo. No more doing the same thing. Time to get out of the comfort zone.
Change her environment and her habits and her game would follow. That was the plan, anyway.
But why choose Utah? What was it about this team and this place at this time? The Utes were just coming off their first NCAA tournament win in 13 years and had an established group.
"It could've gone one of two ways," Head Coach Lynne Roberts says. "Sometimes transfers come in and make it about them. They push back and want to do their own thing. I've been incredibly impressed with how Alissa has approached everything."
The second of nine children, family is "everything" to Pili. She grins when she talks about her mom and dad and how her brothers and sisters (four of each) were "spoiled" by her parents. Each of her siblings played sports and Alissa talks about how they celebrate each other and push one another to be their best.
"I definitely value family more than anything," she says. "I come from a powerful (Polynesian) background and that culture of love and family runs through me."
When you watch the Utes together, they all get along. They laugh and they joke, and they're in each other's TikTok's. On the court, they celebrate each other. They are each other's biggest fans. They have a bond and believe it or not, that's rare in sports. Not all teams are actually…a team. This one is and it's real. That culture comes from the top and you know what it feels like? Family.
"I was looking for a new beginning and somewhere to start fresh," Pili says. "The coaches and the team really cared about each other, and I think I just fit in with that type of environment."
It's easy to talk about change but it's another thing to actually achieve it.
For Alissa, she had found her new basketball family and now it was time for her to put in the work and change her trajectory as a player and leader.
"It was an adjustment for her – the changes we asked her to make," Roberts says. "She totally bought in and as a coach it's so rewarding to see someone who knows they need a change and has the courage to do it and then does it the right way."
One of the many allies Alissa found in her new home was also settling in for her first season at Utah. Lindsey Kirschman, Director of Sports Performance, had joined the Utes around the same time and she and Pili formed a bond through disrupting the status quo.
Coach Lindsey tapped into something "bigger than fitness." It was about a support system and focusing on more than just the weight room and the nutrition.
Things were falling into place for Alissa. It felt like her decision to find a new home in Utah was meant to be. Kismet.
"People had given her a false identity of 'being lazy' and she didn't believe it or want that," Kirschman says. "She was sick of knowing there was more in the tank. She was ready to give everything and not just the safe and comfortable amount. We had to get her to the point where she could believe she had the support around her."
Alissa got to work right away, changed her routines and her habits and noticed her game was starting to takeoff.
Early in the season the changes were noticeable. She was able to beat people up the court, take someone off the dribble and finish games strong. Overall, she's trimmed 20lbs off her frame and she knows that's dramatically helped change her game. Her confidence was growing in herself, and her teammates were right there with her.
"Alissa fit right in with all of us from the start," says sophomore guard Kennady McQueen. "She's bought into our system and the changes she's made to adapt to our team - she's relishing in that. She's a leader and some days we all show up to the weight room and Alissa is already there and gotten a workout in."
Alissa wasn't a starter to open the season and that was ok. She wanted to fit in, learn the team and earn her spot. She put up 27 points on 12-14 from the floor in Utah's season-opening win against Idaho. That bench spot didn't last long.
She helped the Utes get off to a scorching hot start to the season – winning their first 14 games. The team – and Alissa – hasn't cooled off since. Utah is ranked number seven in the country – it's highest ranking in program history and sits tied atop the Pac-12 standings at 20-2. Alissa has scored in double figures in all but one game this year and leads the conference in scoring (20.9 ppg) and field goal percentage (60.7).
Alissa has been phenomenal this year, but her team is so good. They lead the Pac-12 and are top 10 in the nation in points, assists and field goal percentage. It's an unselfish brand of basketball and the best feels like it's yet to come for both Pili and her squad.
"I'm impressed with how she's taken on this change and really thrived," Roberts says. "She wants to be great, and she wants to help take our program to places we've never been. She's a competitor and she really wants it."
The status quo is always the safe option. Do what feels comfortable or what you've always done. People tend to stay stuck where they are because change – real change – is hard. You have to work for it. You have to have a passion and desire to say, "I'm in control of my own destiny."
When you look at Alissa Pili's journey so far, it's really a combination of many things that has her and her team where they are now.
Getting in better shape. Finding an environment to succeed. Believing in yourself and making things happen. Being a part of a whole that is focused on achieving things together. It's all in the recipe for Alissa Pili's success.
"When I got here, I thought about what I wanted to accomplish on and off the court and the sacrifices I'd have to make to achieve those things. I owed it to myself to be the best version I could be. That was the difference and that's why I am in the position I am now."
Pili and the 7th-ranked Utes have six games left until postseason play gets here, starting with a pair of home games against Washington and Washington State at home this weekend.
Do yourself a favor and invest in this team. They are very good, and they are very fun to watch. The bandwagon still has a few spots left and it would be a shame if you got left behind.
It's only noon.
Alissa Pili is no stranger to hard work or success – she was a thirteen-time state champion (basketball, volleyball and track & field) in high school back home in Alaska. She was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year at USC in 2019-20, but when she transferred to the University of Utah this past off-season, she simply needed to make some changes.
Alissa has always been a really good player. She averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds as a freshman at USC. She put up numbers and had moments of brilliance, but her stats steadily declined over her next two seasons. It certainly wasn't a lack of skill – she has that in spades.
"I developed some bad habits and wasn't taking care of myself as best as I could," she says.
Pili admittedly talks about always being a "bigger athlete" and knew that a new perspective and focus on her health could make the difference and take her game to another level. She knew she needed to change her status quo. No more doing the same thing. Time to get out of the comfort zone.
Change her environment and her habits and her game would follow. That was the plan, anyway.
But why choose Utah? What was it about this team and this place at this time? The Utes were just coming off their first NCAA tournament win in 13 years and had an established group.
"It could've gone one of two ways," Head Coach Lynne Roberts says. "Sometimes transfers come in and make it about them. They push back and want to do their own thing. I've been incredibly impressed with how Alissa has approached everything."
The second of nine children, family is "everything" to Pili. She grins when she talks about her mom and dad and how her brothers and sisters (four of each) were "spoiled" by her parents. Each of her siblings played sports and Alissa talks about how they celebrate each other and push one another to be their best.
"I definitely value family more than anything," she says. "I come from a powerful (Polynesian) background and that culture of love and family runs through me."
When you watch the Utes together, they all get along. They laugh and they joke, and they're in each other's TikTok's. On the court, they celebrate each other. They are each other's biggest fans. They have a bond and believe it or not, that's rare in sports. Not all teams are actually…a team. This one is and it's real. That culture comes from the top and you know what it feels like? Family.
"I was looking for a new beginning and somewhere to start fresh," Pili says. "The coaches and the team really cared about each other, and I think I just fit in with that type of environment."
It's easy to talk about change but it's another thing to actually achieve it.
For Alissa, she had found her new basketball family and now it was time for her to put in the work and change her trajectory as a player and leader.
"It was an adjustment for her – the changes we asked her to make," Roberts says. "She totally bought in and as a coach it's so rewarding to see someone who knows they need a change and has the courage to do it and then does it the right way."
One of the many allies Alissa found in her new home was also settling in for her first season at Utah. Lindsey Kirschman, Director of Sports Performance, had joined the Utes around the same time and she and Pili formed a bond through disrupting the status quo.
Coach Lindsey tapped into something "bigger than fitness." It was about a support system and focusing on more than just the weight room and the nutrition.
Things were falling into place for Alissa. It felt like her decision to find a new home in Utah was meant to be. Kismet.
"People had given her a false identity of 'being lazy' and she didn't believe it or want that," Kirschman says. "She was sick of knowing there was more in the tank. She was ready to give everything and not just the safe and comfortable amount. We had to get her to the point where she could believe she had the support around her."
Alissa got to work right away, changed her routines and her habits and noticed her game was starting to takeoff.
Early in the season the changes were noticeable. She was able to beat people up the court, take someone off the dribble and finish games strong. Overall, she's trimmed 20lbs off her frame and she knows that's dramatically helped change her game. Her confidence was growing in herself, and her teammates were right there with her.
"Alissa fit right in with all of us from the start," says sophomore guard Kennady McQueen. "She's bought into our system and the changes she's made to adapt to our team - she's relishing in that. She's a leader and some days we all show up to the weight room and Alissa is already there and gotten a workout in."
Alissa wasn't a starter to open the season and that was ok. She wanted to fit in, learn the team and earn her spot. She put up 27 points on 12-14 from the floor in Utah's season-opening win against Idaho. That bench spot didn't last long.
She helped the Utes get off to a scorching hot start to the season – winning their first 14 games. The team – and Alissa – hasn't cooled off since. Utah is ranked number seven in the country – it's highest ranking in program history and sits tied atop the Pac-12 standings at 20-2. Alissa has scored in double figures in all but one game this year and leads the conference in scoring (20.9 ppg) and field goal percentage (60.7).
Alissa has been phenomenal this year, but her team is so good. They lead the Pac-12 and are top 10 in the nation in points, assists and field goal percentage. It's an unselfish brand of basketball and the best feels like it's yet to come for both Pili and her squad.
"I'm impressed with how she's taken on this change and really thrived," Roberts says. "She wants to be great, and she wants to help take our program to places we've never been. She's a competitor and she really wants it."
The status quo is always the safe option. Do what feels comfortable or what you've always done. People tend to stay stuck where they are because change – real change – is hard. You have to work for it. You have to have a passion and desire to say, "I'm in control of my own destiny."
When you look at Alissa Pili's journey so far, it's really a combination of many things that has her and her team where they are now.
Getting in better shape. Finding an environment to succeed. Believing in yourself and making things happen. Being a part of a whole that is focused on achieving things together. It's all in the recipe for Alissa Pili's success.
"When I got here, I thought about what I wanted to accomplish on and off the court and the sacrifices I'd have to make to achieve those things. I owed it to myself to be the best version I could be. That was the difference and that's why I am in the position I am now."
Pili and the 7th-ranked Utes have six games left until postseason play gets here, starting with a pair of home games against Washington and Washington State at home this weekend.
Do yourself a favor and invest in this team. They are very good, and they are very fun to watch. The bandwagon still has a few spots left and it would be a shame if you got left behind.
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