It didn't take long for NC State guard Saniya Rivers to start off 2025 with a pair of impressive two-way performances.
The 6-foot-1 guard has earned two double-doubles to begin the new year. She garnered 23 points and made her presence known on both sides of the floor in a win over Boston College earlier this month. Rivers has logged 40 minutes in her last two matchups, a feat she has pulled off three times in NC State's 2024-25 campaign.
Rivers ended a Sunday win over Stanford with 17 points, 11 rebounds, one steal and two blocks. She confidently attacked the basket when given the chance in the halfcourt, which led to an efficient seven makes from the floor on 12 tries. She hit two of her three 3-pointers, which outpaced her 32.4% clip from beyond the arc this season. Though she ended the night with two assists, her passing ability led to a few open looks on the perimeter and in transition.
Rivers has proven to be a leader for the No. 21-ranked Wolfpack on the boards this season. She leads the squad with 6.8 rebounds per game, which has only been boosted by her four double-doubles this season. She leads NC state in blocks per game and ranks in the top 3 on the squad in points and steals per game.
The Chicago Sky will have plenty of important decisions to make about the direction of the franchise before the beginning of the WNBA's contract negotiation period on Jan. 21.
Whether it be the stars of today or the more youthful options of tomorrow, the Sky are in need of more reliable guard options across the board as they look to assemble a contending team around forward Angel Reese and center Kamilla Cardoso. Do they focus on retaining their current talent and finding two more home-run prospects in this year's draft? Or do they look to speed up their rebuild and add bigger names to fit with their sophomore big duo sooner rather than later?
If the Sky choose to be patient and rely on a strong, youthful foundation to pitch to stars in 2026, Rivers's two-way ability can make her an intriguing option for the Sky in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Chicago is in position to select one of a talented Notre Dame duo in guards Olivia Miles and Sonia Citron at No. 3. The guard they choose at No. 10 could further enhance Chicago's big duo of the future and build up a Sky squad that placed 10th in the league in net rating.