NEW YORK (WNCN) — NC State’s star backcourt of Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers were among 16 prospects invited to be live at the 2025 WNBA Draft in New York City on Monday night, signifying their positions as two of the top women’s college basketball players in the country.
Both were in attendance, along with head coach Wes Moore and their families, and both ended up being picked in the draft’s first round.
Rivers was selected as the eighth overall pick by the Connecticut Sun, while James was picked 12th overall by the Dallas Wings.
-
North Carolina State’s Saniya Rivers, right, poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected eighth overall by the Connecticut Sun during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) -
North Caroline State’s Aziaha James, left, poses for a photo with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected 12th overall by the Dallas Wings during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
The 6’1″ Rivers was the team’s playmaker and defensive stopper, averaging 11.9 points and 3.8 assists as well as recording a team-leading 57 steals and 46 blocks in her 35 games this past season. The Wilmington native won the 2021 Gatorade National Player of the Year as a senior at Ashley High School and spent her first college season at South Carolina, where she won a championship, before transferring to NC State for her final three years of college.
James was the Wolfpack’s leading scorer this past season, averaging 17.9 points across 35 games on 44.5% shooting from the field. The 5’10” guard from Virginia Beach also averaged 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game and had a total of 40 steals and 11 blocks for the season.
UConn’s Paige Bueckers was selected with the first overall pick by the Wings.