Saniya Rivers

Rivers played basketball for Eugene Ashley High School in Wilmington. She was a three-time North Carolina Gatorade player of the year and a four-time NCBCA All-state selection.^[2]

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.^[3][4] Rivers was rated a five-star recruit, the number three player and the number 2 guard in the class of 2021 by ESPN.^[5] On May 30, 2020, she committed to South Carolina.^[6]

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.^[7]

In her sophomore season, Rivers played in 31 games, averaging 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds.^[8] She led the team in rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks per game.^[9] She scored a season-high 22 points, a career high 5 assists, and a career-high 4 steals against Iowa.^[10] She later had 6 assists against Princeton in the first round of the NCAA tournament.^[11] Rivers was named as the ACC Sixth Player of the Year.^[12]

As a junior, Rivers was a First-team All-ACC and All-Defensive team selection. She was also an AP All-American Honorable Mention.^[13] She averaged 12.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.1 steals, and 0.9 blocks, starting all 35 games.^[14] She led the team in assists and steals per game.^[15] In the postseason, Rivers was named to the Portland 4 Regional All-Tournament Team, as she helped the team to the Final Four.

In April 2024, Rivers attended Kelsey 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.^[19] The 2024 camp was held at the IMG Academy and sponsored by Under Armour.^[19]

On April 30, 2025, her mother Demetria died of congestive heart failure.^[20][21]