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Where is Alissa Pili projected to be taken in the WNBA draft?

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Where is Alissa Pili projected to be taken in the WNBA draft?


After a successful two-year stint at the University of Utah that included being named the 2023 Pac-12 Player of the Year, Alissa Pili is poised to be selected in the 2024 WNBA draft on Monday.

The Utes’ star forward is expected to be a first-round selection in a draft class that includes big names such as Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink, Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese.

Taking a look at the most recent WNBA mock drafts, one team to keep a particular eye on in regards to Pili is the Connecticut Sun. In a survey of seven recent mock drafts, Pili is projected to be taken by the Sun in four mock drafts.

Three of those are with the No. 10 overall pick, while another has Pili slipping to Connecticut with the No. 19 selection in the second round.

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Pili also received a couple projections to the Dallas Wings with the No. 9 overall selection. The Wings also have the No. 5 pick.

Here’s where Pili is projected to be picked in seven mock drafts.

ESPN: No. 9, Dallas Wings

Michael Voepel wrote: “Dallas appears to have a solid core, so could Pili add a little more scoring punch? She averaged 21.4 PPG this season and shot 40.4% from 3-point range. There are questions about her defense, but she’s far from the only rookie who will face that.”

Sporting News: No. 10, Connecticut Sun

Gilbert McGregor wrote: “Pili is one of the most unique talents in this year’s draft. With her, she brings floor-spacing ability in addition to an array of moves around the basket.

“Connecticut’s main rotation is set but in the margins, it could use the scoring punch Pili would provide. Defensively, the Sun are strong and principled enough to compensate for Pili’s potential shortcomings.”

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NBA Draft Room: No. 9, Dallas Wings

From NBA Draft Room: “Can score in the post or from 3pt land. Has size, strength and skill.”

Bleacher Report: No. 11, New York Liberty

CBS Sports: No. 10, Connecticut Sun

Jack Maloney wrote: “The Sun were ninth in the league in 3-point attempts per game last season, and it lost three of the five players who attempted at least two per game during the winter. Connecticut desperately needs some shooting help, and one player who could fill that role is Pili. There are real questions about how she’ll fare in the pros as an undersized forward, but there’s no debate about her shot. She made 40.4% of her attempts from downtown, including 46.7% on open catch-and-shoot looks.”

The Athletic: No. 10, Connecticut Sun

Sabreena Merchant wrote: “Connecticut doesn’t have obvious needs and none that can be addressed at this point in the draft. The Sun can afford to be more forward-thinking and take the most talented player left, someone who figures out how to score from every area on the court. This is a great landing spot for Pili, who will have to learn how to defend, or simply give more effort on that end, to get on the court in Connecticut.”

Yahoo Sports: No. 19, Connecticut Sun

Jackie Powell wrote: “Some have compared Pili to Sun MVP candidate Alyssa Thomas. Pili has proven that she can score at an efficient level during her two seasons at Utah. Will it translate? Offensively it should be because of Pili’s strength and ability to score against much larger players. She scored 37 points on 15-of-23 shooting against Kamilla Cardoso in December. Where the Thomas comparison isn’t sound is when it comes to Pili’s abilities on defense. She’s not a rim protector, doesn’t use her hands to get steals and has trouble staying in front of quicker guards and wings.

“Pili’s success at the next level could depend on how she’s used. Could she come off the bench in spurts against second units and perform well? That’s a consideration around front offices.”

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When is the 2024 WNBA draft?

The 2024 WNBA draft will be held on Monday, April 15 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York.

The draft will be televised on ESPN starting at 5:30 p.m. MDT.

Pili is one of 15 players who will attend the draft in person.

2024 WNBA draft first-round order

1. Indiana Fever.

2. Los Angeles Sparks.

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3. Chicago Sky (from Phoenix).

4. Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle).

5. Dallas Wings (from Chicago).

6. Washington Mystics.

7. Minnesota Lynx.

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8. Chicago Sky (from Atlanta, via Los Angeles).

9. Dallas Wings.

10. Connecticut Sun.

11. New York Liberty.

12. Atlanta Dream (from Las Vegas, via Los Angeles).

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Judge grants bond to Utah soccer coach arrested by ICE

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Judge grants bond to Utah soccer coach arrested by ICE


The Utah man arrested by ICE and wrongly accused by Homeland Security of being a “sodomite and a child abuser,” was granted bond on Monday.

A hearing for Jair Celis was held virtually on Monday, with an additional hearing scheduled for Tuesday. Celis has been a popular soccer coach in Sandy, is married to a U.S. citizen, and has a baby boy who is also a U.S. citizen.

“The judge was very good,” said Adam Crayk, Celis’ attorney. “She just flat out said, ‘Look, I can’t consider something that’s a verbal representation. There’s been no filing here. There’s been nothing submitted to show anything other than exactly what his attorney is saying. And that is, look at all the years that he’s been here, look at all the people that are in favor of him.’”

Bond was granted for $5,000.

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Politics

Utah coach’s case escalates after DHS labels him ‘predator’ in viral post

Once the bond is paid, Crayk expects Celis to be back home in Utah by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Crayk says he still plans to seek legal action against Tricia McLaughlin with Homeland Security for insisting and publicly declaring Celis is a “sodomite and child abuser” when there is no evidence of that.





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Utah Jazz Learn Anthony Davis’ Official Status for Mavericks Game

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Utah Jazz Learn Anthony Davis’ Official Status for Mavericks Game


The Utah Jazz won’t be tasked with going up against Anthony Davis for their upcoming matchup vs. the Dallas Mavericks.

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According to head coach Jason Kidd, Davis has been downgraded to out for the Mavericks’ game vs. the Jazz due to a calf injury.

Davis was previously questionable heading into the night with a left calf contusion, having played the last nine games for the Mavericks following another calf injury that forced him out earlier in the season.

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And while, according to Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News, Davis was present for the Mavericks’ pre-game shootaround, the Dallas staff appears to be taking the safe approach with their star big man, and will keep him out of the action on the road in Salt Lake City.

Anthony Davis Ruled Out vs. Utah Jazz

In the 11 games that Davis has been on the floor for the Mavericks, he’s remained a strong impact player on both ends of the floor, averaging 20.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists on 51.7% shooting. His absence vs. the Jazz will mark his 15th missed game on the season, leaving him just three games shy of being ineligible for end-of-season awards.

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Losing him, no doubt, is a big missing piece for the Mavericks’ frontcourt for however long he’s out, especially on the defensive side of the ball, where he’s been commanding Dallas to a top-six defense through nearly the first two months of the regular season.

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Dec 12, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) walks back up the court during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Jazz, though, won’t be without a depleted frontcourt on their own side as well. Starting big man Jusuf Nurkic has been ruled out due to rest for his second missed game of the season, while of course, Walker Kessler remains out with his season-ending shoulder surgery.

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That means the Jazz will be set to start Kyle Filipowski as their starting center, surrounded by Ace Bailey and Lauri Markkanen in their frontcourt. Kevin Love and two-way signee Oscar Tshiebwe will remain their depth pieces at the five.

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For the Mavericks, they’ll be rolling with a big man rotation consisting of Daniel Gafford on a minutes restriction, as well as veteran Dwight Powell.

Tip-off between the Jazz and Mavericks lands at 7 p.m. MT in the Delta Center, as Utah will attempt to fire off win number two in a row after their win vs. the Memphis Grizzlies, and continue their strong play in front of the home fans they’ve shown thus far this season.

Be sure to bookmark Utah Jazz On SI and follow @JazzOnSI on X to stay up-to-date on daily Utah Jazz news, interviews, breakdowns and more!





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Why didn’t University of Utah Athletics put its private equity deal out for bid?

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Why didn’t University of Utah Athletics put its private equity deal out for bid?


SALT LAKE CITY — Browse the list of what the University of Utah is seeking bids for these days, and you’ll find it wants to buy parts for power systems and that it’s seeking someone to redevelop the old Fort Douglas military installation.

What you won’t find is requests to bid on its sports teams. Yet, on Tuesday, the campus announced it was essentially selling a stake in Ute athletics to Otro Capital — a New York City-based private equity firm.

It’s a deal worth $400 million or $500 million, according to various news outlets. Normally, when the U of U wants goods or services for anything costing as little as $10,000, it seeks bids posted to a public website.

“All this seems to be backdoor discussions without the public,” said Katherine Biele, president of the League of Women Voters of Utah.

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Biele said the league was not taking a position on whether private equity should be part of college sports. Its concern is transparency — how taxpayer money is used and how the deal could impact academics.

“Any kind of information helps,” Biele said. “When you keep everything private and behind closed doors, the public has no idea. And of course that’s where people get worried and confused.”

A U of U spokesperson on Friday said a public bid was not necessary because the new company will be owned by the University of Utah Foundation, an independent nonprofit. The foundation was acting on a directive issued by the university’s board of trustees earlier this year.

“The foundation reviewed many entities,” the foundation’s CEO, David Anderson, said in a statement, “including a large number of private capital firms that have experience in sports-related investments.”

Jerry McGinn, an expert on government and the director of the Center for the Industrial Base in Washington, DC, said it’s normal for government agencies to seek bids privately rather than publicly.

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“And the word in that community was likely pretty well known that Utah was looking to do something,” McGinn said.

Ben Rosa, an assistant professor of business economics at the University of Michigan, said the U of U may have sought private bids because it had good information about what its athletics are worth.

“But if they don’t,” Rosa said, “then, by not running an auction, by not requesting proposals publicly, they may have been giving up some value.”

University of Utah Foundation President David Anderson issued the following statement:

As you know, the university has been wrestling with the issues confronting our athletics programs for some time. Several months ago, university leaders, including the Board of Trustees, designated the university’s foundation to explore alternatives, potential impacts and whether a partner made sense, and if so, which one.
In consultation with trustees and university leaders, the foundation reviewed many entities, including a large number of private capital firms that have experience in sports-related investments. The foundation will oversee the partnership between Utah Brands & Entertainment and any final partner, including Otro.

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