NC State guard Saniya Rivers logged 14 points in a close win over the Clemson Tigers on Sunday.
Rivers ended the night with three defensive rebounds, three assists and one block. She hit 50% of her tries from the field, including one of her three shots from the 3-point line. The 6-foot-1 guard had an off night from the free throw line. She only hit one of her five attempts from the charity stripe.
Rivers leads NC State, the No. 22 team in the country, in blocks per game with 1.1 in her 13 games played this season. She is in the top three on the Wolfpack's roster in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game. While she has shot inefficiently from the field this year, she has logged 20 points or more on two occasions and has two double-doubles under her belt. The former South Carolina guard was named to the All-ACC First Team and its All-Defensive Team following a notable junior season last year.
Rivers's size and playmaking ability can make her a solid fit for the Sky later in the first round of the 2025 WNBA Draft. Chicago is in need of passing and playmaking options after ending last season without a player who averaged more than 4.5 assists per game. Guard Lindsay Allen, a consistent starter for the Sky who played in 40 games last year, averaged 3.9 assists per game for Chicago last season. The Sky finished last season near the bottom of the league in assists per game, a far cry from when they led the league in the waning seasons of the James Wade era.
Rivers may have to be paired with consistent shooting options if the Sky select her in April. Along with her inconsistent shooting from the perimeter, Chicago has been in need of shooting talent after it finished in the bottom of the league in 3-point attempts and makes.