Saniya Rivers

Saniya Rivers is a Connecticut Sun guard in the WNBA. The Sun selected her eighth overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft after her collegiate career at North Carolina State. She is listed at 6 feet 1 inch and was born on March 4, 2003, in Wilmington, North Carolina. As of September 12, 2026, Connecticut’s official roster lists Rivers as an active member of the team.

Rivers began her college career at South Carolina, where she was part of the 2022 NCAA championship team, and transferred to NC State for her final three seasons. At NC State, she earned All-ACC First Team and ACC All-Defensive Team recognition in both 2024 and 2025, while also receiving ACC Sixth Player of the Year honors in 2023. She helped NC State win the 2025 ACC regular-season title and reach the 2024 Final Four.

Rivers’ game is built around two-way versatility. She can handle guard responsibilities, contribute as a passer and rebounder, and apply pressure defensively with active hands and help-side awareness. Her collegiate defensive honors and Connecticut’s description of her rookie impact support a profile centered on multi-position defensive activity, transition play and connective ballhandling rather than a single specialized role. Her first professional season also established her as an important young piece in the Sun’s roster development.