Saniya Rivers

About

Basketball player known for being an elite two-way guard who starred for the NC State Wolfpack after beginning her college career at South Carolina and for becoming a WNBA first-round draft pick when the Connecticut Sun selected her No. 8 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Before fame

She attended and played basketball for Eugene Ashley High School. She committed to South Carolina and joined the Gamecocks for the 2021-22 season which ended with South Carolina winning the 2022 NCAA national championship. She transferred to NC State in 2022. She helped lead NC State to the 2024 NCAA Final Four. She was drafted No. 8 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun. She was drafted by Hive BC for the 2026 Unrivaled season in November 2025.

Trivia

She was named the 2020-21 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year. She was also selected as a 2021 McDonald's All-American. She was named ACC Sixth Player of the Year in 2023. She earned First-team All-ACC honors in both 2024 and 2025.

Family life

She was born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina. Her mother Demetria passed away from congestive heart failure shortly before the start of her WNBA career in 2025.

Associated with

She played for Dawn Michelle Staley during her time at South Carolina where she won the 2022 NCAA championship.