Vanderbilt fans tracking the WNBA this week had one name to watch closely: Justine Pissott, whose availability for Las Vegas became a genuine question mark heading into Saturday's matchup against the Minnesota Lynx.
The Injury Watch
Pissott's status was flagged in the final injury report ahead of the Aces-Lynx game, with Las Vegas potentially facing the contest without multiple key contributors. For a Vanderbilt alumna carving out her role on a competitive Aces roster, the uncertainty was a notable storyline — and one Commodore fans had reason to monitor closely heading into the weekend.
On the court when healthy, Pissott had been part of a busy stretch for Las Vegas. She logged three points and a +2 plus/minus in the Aces' blowout win over the Atlanta Dream on August 3, a 109–87 victory that showed Las Vegas at its most dominant. The Aces followed that with an 86–84 nail-biter over the Indiana Fever on August 6, though no stats were recorded for Pissott in that one. The final leg of the stretch — Saturday's game against Minnesota — ended in an 87–98 Aces loss to the Lynx, a result that underscored just how much Las Vegas needed everyone available and clicking.
The Bigger Picture
Pissott is one of three Vanderbilt alumni currently active in the WNBA, alongside Mariella Fasoula (Golden State Valkyries) and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (Golden State Valkyries). The Commodore pipeline into the league is real, and Pissott's ability to stay on the floor for a playoff-caliber franchise like the Aces keeps that profile elevated.
With the WNBA season in full swing and the Aces navigating a competitive Western Conference, Pissott's health and role will be worth monitoring through the stretch run. For Vanderbilt faithful, she remains the most high-stakes name to follow in the league — and last week's injury cloud only reinforced how quickly circumstances can shift.
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