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Dawn Staley’s Former Player Records Rare WNBA Feat

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Spencer Ostrow | Last updated May 24, 2025 12:13 PM ET

South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley coached plenty of high-level players who went on to play in the WNBA.

Saniya Rivers is one of them. But her time in Columbia didn’t last long — she played just one season at South Carolina, averaging 2.3 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists as a freshman.

Rivers then transferred to NC State, where she spent the next three seasons. As a senior, she averaged 11.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

She was drafted eighth overall by the Connecticut Sun and made her WNBA debut on Tuesday.

Just a few days later, on Friday night, Rivers became the 19th rookie in league history — and the first since Nicky Anosike in 2008 — to record at least 11 points, 3 offensive rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks in a game.

Last night vs. Minnesota, Saniya Rivers became the first rookie to record at least 11 points, 3 offensive rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks in a regular season contest since Nicky Anosike on July 24, 2008.

It also marks just the 19th time a rookie has put up those… pic.twitter.com/W4kOqDvMun
— Connecticut Sun PR (@CTSunPR) May 24, 2025

Rivers missed most of training camp, the entire preseason, and the Sun’s season opener on May 18 against the Washington Mystics, as she was with her family mourning the loss of her mother.

The 6-foot-1 guard is now back with the team full-time and called losing her mom the toughest thing she’s ever faced.

"Losing my mom has been the toughest thing I’ve ever faced in my life," Rivers said after her WNBA debut.

"And I’m playing for her. I came out here to play for her, and I know she’s looking over me and protecting me in a different way."

Rivers shared that her mother met the staff before she passed.

"My mom got the opportunity to meet the staff and the team before she passed, and I think she was able to rest because she knew I was in good hands," Rivers added.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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