From High School Courts to the WNBA Rafters: Saniya Rivers' Inspiring Journey
It's a testament to dedication and talent when a high school basketball star's jersey is retired, and that's precisely what happened for Saniya Rivers at Ashley High School in Wilmington, N.C. But what makes this story even more remarkable is the speed at which she's achieved such recognition.
On a recent Friday, Rivers witnessed her No. 22 ascend to the rafters of her alma mater, a clear symbol of her impact.
Her journey from Ashley High to the WNBA is nothing short of meteoric. Rivers' high school career earned her the prestigious 2021 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award, a scholarship and an impressive career at NC State, and finally, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun.
Reflecting on this rapid ascent, Rivers herself was taken aback. As she shared with the Wilmington Star-News, "It really just hit me this morning what was going on, like my jersey is being retired. It's a big deal, and I think I downplayed it a little bit, but once I stepped in, all my family is here, people were coming up taking pictures, it's just like, 'Wow, this is really happening.'"
Rivers' rookie season with the Sun solidified her place as a key player for seasons to come, virtually guaranteeing her protection from the WNBA expansion draft.
During her first season, Rivers showcased her all-around skills, averaging 8.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, while also averaging nearly one block per game. She stepped into a starting role mid-season for the Sun, who had a challenging season with only 11 wins. Impressively, she finished the season with 100 stocks (combined steals and blocks), making her one of only seven players in the WNBA to reach this mark in 2025.
In a standout game against the Indiana Fever, Rivers recorded a career-high five blocks, becoming only the third Sun player to achieve this feat. Her season stats also placed her among some of the best players in WNBA history, with 371 points, 118 rebounds, 113 assists, and 62 steals. She became the first rookie in the league in 23 years to achieve at least 370 points, 115 rebounds, 110 assists, and 60 steals, a feat last accomplished by Tamika Catchings in 2002.
But here's where it gets controversial... This incredible achievement came during a year marked by personal tragedy, as Rivers lost her mother, Dee Dee Toon Rivers, to congestive heart failure just before the season began.
In a touching tribute, Rivers returned to Wilmington during the offseason to host the inaugural Dee Dee Toon Rivers UNCW luncheon, raising money for charity in her mother's name. Dee Dee herself was a basketball player at UNCW, making the event even more meaningful.
Currently, Rivers and her WNBA colleagues are awaiting a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players' association. A second extension allows negotiations to continue into January.
What do you think? Do you believe Rivers' achievements are even more impressive given the challenges she faced? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
