LAS VEGAS — Justine Pissott scored 22 points in 18 minutes off the bench. Eight rebounds. Three assists. A WNBA debut record for a rookie waived before the season.
The Indiana Fever cut her in May. Becky Hammon picked her up three days later.
“Let so much talent go,” a WNBA analyst told Yahoo Sports after the game. The phrase is becoming a recurring critique of the Fever’s front office.
Pissott, a 6-foot-4 guard out of Tennessee, was drafted 24th overall by the Fever in April. She averaged 4.3 points in preseason. Indiana waived her to free roster space for veteran signings.
Hammon, the Las Vegas Aces head coach, saw something else. “She has length, she can shoot, she processes the game fast,” Hammon said postgame. “We just gave her a system and let her play.”
The Fever’s decision fits a pattern. Indiana has waived or traded multiple young players in recent years who later produced elsewhere.
Chennedy Carter, waived by the Aces themselves in June after 12 games, is a separate case. The 25-year-old guard was a No. 4 overall pick in 2020, but clashes with coaches and inconsistent play have followed her through three teams. The Aces gave her a chance; it didn’t work.
But Pissott’s trajectory is different. She wasn’t a problem. She was unpolished.
| Category | Indiana Fever (Pre-Waiver) | Las Vegas Aces (Post-Waiver) |
|---|---|---|
| Player valuation | Short-term roster fit | Long-term developmental upside |
| Scouting philosophy | Veteran experience priority | Raw talent + system refinement |
| Recent waived player outcomes | Multiple former cuts succeed elsewhere | Aces reclaim & polish castoffs |
“Teams are going to start thinking twice before cutting a project player,” a league agent told CBS Sports on condition of anonymity. “The stigma of being waived by a franchise that misses on talent is real.”
The Fever declined to comment on the record. Their current roster is 6-10, sitting 10th in the league.
Pissott’s record debut is not a fluke. She shot 8-of-12 from the field, 4-of-6 from three-point range. Her plus-minus was +19.
Hammon has built a dynasty on second chances. The Aces won back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024. Their bench features players like Alysha Clark, a former Seattle Storm castoff, and Kiah Stokes, waived by the Fever in 2021.
“Becky doesn’t care where you came from,” Aces guard Chelsea Gray said. “She cares what you can become.”
The Fever face the Aces on July 27 in Las Vegas. The game now carries a narrative beyond standings.
Pissott said she holds no grudge. “I’m just grateful for the opportunity,” she told reporters. “Indiana made a decision. Becky made a different one.”
One waiver changed a career. The WNBA is now watching to see if it changes how teams value young talent.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Who is Becky Hammon and why is she significant in this story?
- A: Becky Hammon is the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces who signed rookie Justine Pissott just three days after she was waived by the Indiana Fever. Hammon’s eye for raw talent and system-based coaching allowed Pissott to set a WNBA debut record.
- Q: What record did Justine Pissott break in her WNBA debut?
- A: Pissott scored 22 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and dished 3 assists in just 18 minutes off the bench, setting a league record for a rookie waived before the season.
- Q: Why did the Indiana Fever waive Pissott?
- A: The Fever waived Pissott to free up roster space for veteran signings, prioritizing short-term fit over long-term development, a pattern that has seen them lose multiple young players who later thrived elsewhere.
Extended Reading
Sources: Yahoo Sports, Indianapolis Star, CBS Sports. HA Viewpoint internal analysis confirms the Aces’ developmental model has produced 4 All-Stars from waived or undrafted players since 2022.