Two NC State women’s basketball players selected in first round of WNBA Draft
N.C. State guards Saniya Rivers and Aziaha James weren’t always sure they’d be professional basketball players.
Monday night in New York, they both were first-round picks in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
The Connecticut Sun selected Rivers as the No. 8 overall pick. She will join Aneesah Morrow, from LSU, who was taken at No. 7. James was the final pick of the first round, selected No. 12 overall by the Dallas Wings. She joins UConn star Paige Bueckers, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
Rivers and James are the Wolfpack’s first draft picks since 2022. It was the first time since 2019 that N.C. State had a first-round draft pick, and the first time in program history to have two first-round selections. Rivers is also the Wolfpack’s highest pick in program history.
“I love that girl to death. We call each other our twins. We’re sisters for life. I told her she’s gonna be my flower girl my wedding,” James said, describing the meaning of being drafted with Rivers. “We just love each other so much. We work hard. We had ups and downs, and we had so much adversity coming toward us. Just to see both our names called in the first round, it just shows a lot. It shows a lot about coach (Wes) Moore’s character, how he pushes us every day and how he motivates us. And, not only us, but the rest of the team. That shows a lot.”
Sun selects Saniya Rivers
Rivers, from Wilmington, North Carolina, played three seasons at N.C. State and was listed as a first-round draft pick on multiple draft boards the entire season. She averaged 9.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in her four seasons of college basketball, including her freshman year at South Carolina.
In her final two years at N.C. State, Rivers contributed just over 12 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
Rivers earned All-ACC First Team, ACC All-Defensive Team and All-America Honorable mention in the last two seasons. In her sophomore season, Rivers earned ACC Sixth Player of the Year honors.
Though Rivers could score when needed, her versatility proved most impactful for the Wolfpack. Rivers spent much of her time on offense at the point guard position but transitioned into more of an off-ball player this year. She also helped lead the defense, contributing 202 steals and 122 blocks in her career. Rivers blocked 46 shots this season, nearly 38% of her career total.
In N.C. State’s Sweet 16 loss in March, Rivers finished with nine points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals. She finished just shy of a triple-double in the team’s wins over Notre Dame (14 points/13 rebounds/9 assists) and Michigan State (17 pts/8 reb/11 ast). She boasted a 12-rebound, 13-assist double-double in the regular-season finale at SMU.
Rivers also finished her career as the only player in school history to record more than 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 350 assists, 180 steals and 100 blocks.
Those skills, plus her 6-foot-1 frame, made Rivers a top prospect in this season’s draft.
Chicago Sky General Manager Jeff Pagliocca said last week he believed Rivers was likely the best overall athlete in the draft class.
Rivers said at ACC Tipoff in October that she went through a stretch where wasn’t sure she wanted to play professionally. She found her love of basketball again after attending Kelsey Plum’s “Dawg Class” last summer, alongside a number of talented college guards, including James.
Rivers earned the “Dawg of the Class” award. After her success at the camp and a conversation with Plum about finding happiness in and out of the sport, Rivers felt like pursuing the WNBA was a real possibility again.
“I’m excited, because now I have goals of hopefully going to the next level, and I’m going to pursue them for sure.” Rivers told the News & Observer.
Following her selection, Rivers kept saying she’s blessed; blessed by a supportive circle of loved ones, blessed to be considered for a roster spot, and blessed to play at N.C. State under Moore, who was spotted with tears in his eyes after both players were drafted.
Rivers credited Moore and the Wolfpack coaching staff for preparing her for the next step.
“To girls that are looking for a program or have already committed N.C. State, just stay the course. Stay in the moment,” Rivers said. “If he’s hard on you, it’s just because he knows that you’re capable, and he just has high standards. Just keep going, and maybe you end up where I’m sitting. That’s the hope.”
James takes flight with the Wings
James, from Virginia Beach, played all four seasons of her college career at N.C. State. She played a limited role in her freshman and sophomore years before becoming a regular starter as an upperclassman.
Moore, who teared up after seeing both players drafted, mentioned on several occasions there were times when James was younger that he probably should’ve given her more playing time and admitted he often defaults to using upperclassmen.
“It just makes me feel good,” Moore said of her loyalty to the program. “Aziaha James, who (in the) first year or two didn’t probably play as much as she would like. Nowadays, in this environment, a lot of kids would have left. She stuck it out and developed and is reaping the benefits of it now.”
After the team ended its season in the Sweet 16, James said it was hard to go out with a loss and fall short of its goals, but she’s grateful for what playing at N.C. State provided.
“I’m glad I stayed here for all four years,” James. “I’m glad I grew as a person, as a woman. I love these girls (Rivers and Madison Hayes). We’re league-bound, and I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next.”
The senior averaged roughly 12.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in her collegiate career. In her final two seasons, however, James averaged 16 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. She finished in double figures in all but one game this season, while scoring a career-high 36 points against Duke in the regular season.
James finished her career with 1,589 total points, which ranks No. 12 in program history, 130 games played and 184 3-pointers made.
James is listed at 5-foot-10 but has speed and can score on all three levels. Like Rivers, she can play in multiple positions and provide scrappy defense which put her on multiple draft boards throughout the season. James was listed as a high as a mid-first round pick, but she was consistently listed as an early- to mid-second round pick.
Monday morning, ESPN listed James as a likely first-round pick in its final draft board update.
The past two seasons, James earned All-ACC First Team honors and was an All-Freshman Team selection in 2021-22. James earned All-America Honorable Mention this season, and was the Portland 4 Regional Most Outstanding Player after scoring 56 points in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight last season.
She looks forward to being an energetic rookie who isn’t afraid to push herself or her teammates. James wants to soak up all the information she can to be an asset in the W.
And, when asked what she’d tell herself on the first day of practice? James would merely give her a brief word of encouragement.
“Girl, is a lot coming your way. A lot of doors are gonna be closing, but more are gonna be opening,” James said. “Stay patient. Keep working. You want to get your turn, and the light is gonna shine on you one day.”
Washington Mystics GM Jamila Wideman said last week James and Rivers are “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.”
The duo joins a select group of N.C. State players to hear their names called on draft night. Elissa Cunane and Kayla Jones were drafted in 2022. Cunane plays overseas, while Jones recently served as a graduate assistant with the Wolfpack after a brief professional career.
Prior to Cunane and Jones’ selections, Kiara Leslie was selected No. 10 overall in 2019 by the Washington Mystics. Markeisha Gatling was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2014 class and selected by the Chicago Sky. Kody Burke went in the third round to the Mystics that same year.
This story was originally published April 14, 2025 at 9:07 PM.
