.jpg) Rivers with theConnecticut Sun in 2025 | |
| No. 22 – Connecticut Sun | |
|---|---|
| Position | Guard |
| League | WNBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (2003-03-04)March 4, 2003 (age 22) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Eugene Ashley (Wilmington, North Carolina) |
| College |
|
| WNBA draft | 2025: 1st round, 8th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Connecticut Sun |
| Playing career | 2025–present |
| Career history | |
| 2025–present | Connecticut Sun |
| 2026–present | Hive BC |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats atBasketball Reference  | |
Saniya Rivers (born March 4, 2003) is an American professionalbasketball player for theConnecticut Sun of theWomen's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for theHive ofUnrivaled. She played college basketball for theNC State Wolfpack of theAtlantic Coast Conference (ACC). She previously played for theSouth Carolina Gamecocks. Rivers was selected eighth overall by the Sun in the2025 WNBA draft.
Rivers played basketball forEugene Ashley High School in Wilmington. She was a three-timeNorth Carolina Gatorade player of the year and a four-time NCBCA All-state selection.[1]
In her senior year, she averaged 34.3 points, 12.1 rebounds, 6.1 steals, and 5.8 assists per game and lead Ashley to a 2021 Mideastern Conference title. She was also the 2021 Gatorade National Player of the Year and a McDonald's All-American.[2][3] Rivers was rated a five-star recruit, the number three player and the number 2 guard in the class of 2021 byESPN.[4] On May 30, 2020, she committed to South Carolina.[5]
Rivers played as a reserve at South Carolina as the team won a national championship, appearing in 27 games and averaging 2.3 points and 1.4 assists. She scored a season-high eight points against Alabama shooting 4-7 and had a season-high five assists against Auburn. In May 2022, Rivers transferred to NC State.[6]
In her sophomore season, Rivers played in 31 games, averaging 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds.[7] She led the team in rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks per game.[8] She scored a season-high 22 points, a career high 5 assists, and a career-high 4 steals against Iowa.[9] She later had 6 assists against Princeton in the first round of the NCAA tournament.[10] Rivers was named as the ACC Sixth Player of the Year.[11]
As a junior, Rivers was a First-team All-ACC and All-Defensive team selection. She was also an AP All-American Honorable Mention.[12] She averaged 12.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.1 steals, and 0.9 blocks, starting all 35 games.[13] She led the team in assists and steals per game.[14] In the postseason, Rivers was named to the Portland 4 Regional All-Tournament Team, as she helped the team to the Final Four.
Rivers was selected eighth overall by theConnecticut Sun in the2025 WNBA draft.[15] She missed most of training camp, all of preseason, and the season opener to spend time with her family after her mother died. She made her debut on May 20, in a 62–87 loss to theLas Vegas Aces, scoring 11 points in 25 minutes off the bench.[16]
On November 5, 2025, it was announced that Rivers had been drafted byHive BC for the2026 Unrivaled season.[17]
In April 2024, Rivers attendedKelsey Plum's second annual Dawg Class, a 3-day camp with the purpose of helping top women college athletes transition from collegiate to professional basketball.[18] The 2024 camp was held at theIMG Academy and sponsored byUnder Armour.[18]
On 30 April 2025, her mother Demetria died of congestive heart failure.
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | RPG | Rebounds per game |
| APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
| TO | Turnovers per game | FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| Bold | Career best | ° | League leader |
Stats current through end of 2025 season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Connecticut | 42 | 25 | 26.1 | .407 | .341 | .746 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 8.8 |
| Career | 1 year, 1 team | 42 | 25 | 26.1 | .407 | .341 | .746 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 8.8 |
| * | Denotes season(s) in which Rivers won anNCAA Championship |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22* | South Carolina | 27 | 0 | 13.0 | 24.5 | 3.2 | 50.0 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 2.3 |
| 2022–23 | NC State | 31 | 12 | 28.0 | 43.9 | 21.5 | 62.5 | 5.2 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 8.6 |
| 2023–24 | NC State | 35 | 35 | 35.2 | 38.2 | 26.0 | 73.5 | 6.1 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 12.5 |
| 2024–25 | NC State | 35 | 35 | 34.1 | 41.9 | 27.2 | 67.4 | 6.6 | 3.8 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 11.9 |
| Career | 128 | 82 | 28.5 | 39.5 | 22.9 | 67.9 | 5.1 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 9.2 | |
| Statistics retrieved fromSports-Reference.[20] | |||||||||||||