The Sun Connecticut selected the Saniya rivers with the eighth overall election of the WNBA project on Monday.
After being named National Player of Gatorade of 2021 and a McDonald’s, WBCA and Naismith All-American, Wilmington’s six-foot guard, North Carolina graduated from Eugene Ashley High School and crossed state lines to attend South Carolina University.
Rivers won the national title by 2022 with Dawn Story and Gamecocks as a role player on the bench before moving to NC State, returning to his origin.
During his three years with Wolfpack, Rivers developed his skills as a full and complete athlete. This past year it had an average of 11.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg and a better team of 3.8 APG to go with 1.6 SPG and 1.3 BPG. Rivers also received selections for the first team All-ACC and ACC All-Defensive Team for the second consecutive year.
The adjustment
Rivers joins Connecticut at a time of transition. Tina Charles, Marina Mabrey and Diamond Deslields are probably the only locks for the starting line of the Sun at the beginning of the training field on April 28.
With the sun selecting LSU Aneah Morrow with General Selection number 7 Moments before taking rivers, the final place of rotation is likely to be free. Unless Connecticut’s new main coach, Rachid Meziane, opts for a two-large alignment of Charles with Olivia Nelson-Ododa, the current favorites are Lindsay Allen, a veteran Guardia de Notre Dame with seven years of experience, and Jacy Sheldon, the general team number 5 of the 2024 WNBA project outside the state of Ohio by Dallas Wings.
Leit Lacan, the selection of the Sun with the general selection number 10 in 2024, signed his novice contract and will begin his WNBA career this spring with the real possibility of providing Allen and Sheldon Competition.
The roof of Rivers for this season is very likely to see a backup between the shooting protection and the small advance. But the lack of clarity in the position of the guard and the lack of competition for the backup minutes of the backup, Rivers will see a large amount of action on the court with its combination of length and tenacity.