When Saniya Rivers steps onto the court for the Connecticut Sun next season, she’ll be rocking a familiar sight for her fans – that iconic No. 22 jersey. The former NC State guard, who became the 8th overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, isn’t just bringing her talents to Connecticut – she’s bringing her identity.
From Wolfpack Legend to WNBA Rookie
Rivers’ basketball journey reads like a movie script. After starting out at South Carolina where she helped win a national championship, she made the bold move to transfer to NC State to be closer to home. That decision changed everything – not just for her, but for Wolfpack history.
In just three seasons with NC State, Rivers did something no player in program history had ever done before. She racked up more than 1,100 points, 600 rebounds, 350 assists, 180 steals, and 100 blocks. Think about that – three years to accomplish what nobody else did in four. Her senior year was particularly special, averaging 11.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. No wonder she earned All-ACC First Team and All-Defensive Team honors for the second straight year.
Former NC State guard Saniya Rivers (@Ihoop___22) will continue to wear the No. 22 jersey with the Connecticut Sun at the WNBA level. pic.twitter.com/x2TjF8tz1W
— Cory Smith (@RCorySmith) April 16, 2025
NC State coach Wes Moore couldn’t say enough about Rivers’ impact: “We’re excited about bringing Saniya back home. She is one of the most decorated players to come out of our state and will make a major impact on our program. She has the ability to score in a variety of ways and put up big numbers but also has great court vision that leads to scoring opportunities for her teammates. In addition, Saniya’s length and athleticism makes her a prolific two-way player who can impact a game on either end of the floor – both on the boards and in making ‘defense leads to offense’ types of plays. Saniya will only add to the energy and excitement around our program.”
Overcoming Challenges on the Road to Professional Success
Not everything came easy for Rivers. There was a time after a tough loss during the 2023-24 season when she almost gave up on her WNBA dreams completely. Her confidence was shattered. But sometimes heroes need heroes too – and for Rivers, encouragement from a WNBA All-Star helped her rediscover her fire and passion for the game.
That turnaround led to a monster senior season where she posted nine double-doubles – after having just three in all her previous college years combined. The stats tell the story: Rivers was in elite company as one of only three players in Power 4 conferences (alongside UConn’s Sarah Strong and USC’s JuJu Watkins) to put up 400+ points, 200+ rebounds, 100+ assists, 40+ steals, and 40+ blocks in the 2024-25 season.
At 6-foot-1, Rivers will likely shift from playing primarily as a lead guard to more of a wing position in the WNBA. Her length, speed, and versatility are perfect fits for Connecticut’s style, which emphasizes ball movement and tough defense – both Rivers specialties.
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Her tattoo says it all: “No Rain, No Flowers.” After weathering her own storms, Saniya Rivers is ready to bloom in Connecticut while keeping that meaningful No. 22 jersey right where it belongs.
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