Saniya

Rivers

Rivers made her WNBA debut on Tuesday after missing the team’s season opener while being away from the team following her mother’s passing in April. The No. 8 pick in the draft performed well, being one of only two Sun players to reach double figures in scoring. Rivers, known for her ability to defend well in college, displayed a similar ability in her 25 minutes of action — she was the only Connecticut player to record multiple steals. She’ll have a ways to go before reaching relevancy in fantasy leagues, but her performance against the Aces was an encouraging start to her career.

Rivers recently rejoined the Suns after spending time away from the team following her mother’s passing in late April. The first-round pick out of NC State was on the bench for Sunday’s season-opening loss to the Mystics, and her absence from the injury report indicates that Rivers will be available on Tuesday. Those competing in fantasy leagues should not expect too much immediately regarding Rivers’ playing time, but she should figure prominently in head coach Rachid Meziane’s plans as the season progresses.

While Rivers is away from the team due to a death in the family, Morrow has been sidelined by a right knee injury. The two first-round picks were expected to provide additional depth for the Sun, but that has not come to fruition yet. Given the rookies’ lack of playing time during the preseason, the roles of players like Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Jacy Sheldon should not change on Sunday.

When listing impact perimeter defenders, getting through many names before landing on Rivers is hard. At 6-foot-1, the former 2021 Gatorade National Player of the Year is an impressive athlete with the length to consistently make life tough on opposing guards. She never came around as an efficient scorer in her lone season at South Carolina or the following three at NC State. However, she still earned first-team All-ACC and ACC All-Defensive Team honors during her junior and senior seasons for the Wolfpack. Rivers posted averages this season of 11.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game while leading NC State in assists, blocks, and defensive rebounds. Her versatility on both ends of the floor should serve the Sun well, as they’re in rebuilding mode after losing Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner during the offseason. Rivers was Connecticut’s second first-round pick, following LSU’s Aneesah Morrow.