NC State’s Big 3 have eyes on WNBA Draft. Here’s what GMs, analysts say

Three N.C. State women’s basketball guards are WNBA Draft eligible this year, with Saniya Rivers and Aziaha James expected to be first- or second-round picks next week.

WNBA general managers and women’s basketball analysts discussed the upcoming draft class Thursday.

The draft will take place at 7:30 p.m. Monday in New York. It will be broadcast on ESPN.

Rivers is the highest prospect of the Wolfpack’s “Big 3” — Rivers, James and Madison Hayes — and appears in seven mock drafts. The 6-foot-1 senior ranks as high as the No. 6 pick (Washington Mystics). However, Rivers is most commonly placed between picks No. 9 and 13.

Analysts said all season that Rivers all-around skillset, in addition to her height and length, make her an elite professional prospect.

ESPN analyst Andraya Carter said on Thursday that in conversations with GMs, they cite her athleticism, versatility, defensive efficiency and ability to get to the rim. Carter said Rivers could use more consistency in her jump shot, but her other skills make her an intriguing prospect.

Chicago Sky General Manager Jeff Pagliocca agreed, noting the franchise’s desire to continue adding length to its roster. Chicago has the No. 10 pick in the draft.

“Saniya, she could probably handle one through three, a little bit of four at times,” Pagliocca said. “She’s maybe the best athlete, overall athlete in the draft. She’s got a lot of length, too. She’s proven she can guard multiple positions, which always matters in our league. With length, you can cause some problems with point guards and wings. You’ve got to pay attention to players like that.”

Rivers averaged 9.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in her four seasons, including her freshman year at South Carolina. In her junior and senior years at N.C. State, Rivers contributed just over 12 points and 6.4 rebounds per game and flirted with a triple-double in multiple games down the stretch.

Additionally, the former guard contributed 202 steals and 122 blocks in her career. She logged 46 blocks this season, nearly 38% of her career total.

‘A microwave scorer’

James has been listed as high as mid-first round but most commonly an early- to mid-second round pick. She can score in all three phases, both off the dribble and catch-and-shoot opportunities, but is smaller than her teammate. Listed at 5-foot-10, James has a smaller physique and that likely impacts her spot. Dallas Wings GM Curt Miller, however, said there are times when lower draft picks end up being more valuable to teams than higher picks.

The senior averaged 12.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in her collegiate career, but her final two seasons tell a bigger story about what she brings to a team. James averaged more than 16 points in her junior and senior seasons, while adding more than 4.5 rebounds per game.

This year, James scored double figures in all but one game and scored a career-high 36 points in the Wolfpack’s regular season win over Duke. She finished one rebound shy of a double-double in five contests.

James earned the Most Outstanding Player nod last spring in N.C. State’s NCAA Tournament regional after her elite shooting lifted the Wolfpack into its first Final Four since 1998.

“Aziaha, she can get on a heater. She’s a microwave scorer, a confident scorer,” Carter said. “Her ability to score alone as a lefty coming off of ball screens, getting to the rim, mid range of all of those type of things; I think those two (James and Rivers), they’re intriguing in different ways, but both very intriguing prospects.”

Washington Mystics GM Jamila Wideman called James and Rivers “great examples” of the talent in the draft class.

“I think we watched that team really find some tremendous chemistry toward the end of the year,” Wideman said. “Both are just really exciting players that, I think, exemplify where the game is going. Both (are) incredibly athletic, both able to get up and down the court and play with speed, both able to play a couple different positions. I think both of them are examples of the kind of versatile outside talent that we’re just beginning to see more consistently spread across the NCAA. We’re about to watch that talent enter our league.”

‘Looking to add dawgs’

Hayes only appeared on one draft board in November, though many do not include second- or third-round predictions.

Hayes averaged seven rebounds per game in her fourth and fifth years, while scoring more than 40% from 3-point range. The graduate student contributed 11 double-doubles in her career, including five this season.

In reference to LSU’s Aneesah Morrow, Miller said rebounding most often translates in the WNBA. Morrow is considered undersized but a potential top pick.

Hayes, listed at 6-feet, is also considered undersized and may not have the typical WNBA player frame but possesses similar intangibles that could lend themselves to Hayes becoming a late third-round pick or earning an undrafted free agent contract.

“It talks about tenacity. It talks about desire,” Miller said. “Rebounding is a big hustle statistic. … Using the term in a good way, all of us are looking to add dawgs to our locker room.”

This story was originally published April 10, 2025 at 4:35 PM.

Jadyn Watson-Fisher

The News & Observer