NFL
By: LaGrace Parker
The Connecticut Sun are going through it. They are 2–16, which is the worst record in the team’s history. They are also dead last in the WNBA in scoring (70.9 PPG), shooting (39.3% FG), and net rating (23.1). But rookie guard Saniya Rivers is giving this team hope, even though they have lost a lot this season.
Rivers, who was picked eighth overall in the draft, made an impressive debut in her first game on May 20 by scoring 11 points in just 25 minutes off the bench. She quickly became a starter and has been through 12 of the team’s first 18 games as a starter. She averages 6.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. These may not seem like impressive stats, but they show how important she is on defense and how well she can play on both ends of the court.
She’s doing all of this while also carrying the death of her mother. “Losing my mom has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with,” Rivers said at the start of the season. “I came out here to play for her, and I know she’s watching over me and keeping me safe.”
Her drive is clear in how hard she works. Rivers has become a defensive spark for a team that really needs one. She does this by diving for loose balls and hounding ball handlers. She remarkably has more steals per game than anyone else on the Sun, and the other team’s best perimeter threat is often her job.
Rivers stayed focused even though the Sun lost their first five games of the season. “That really made us want to win [against Indiana].” she said after their first win. “It showed what we can do if we focus.”
No matter what, the growth pains are real. Connecticut has lost nine games in a row and is having a hard time getting into a flow with their new head coach, Dominique Meziane. Meziane said, “We do drills over and over until they go smoothly.” “But we’re still not doing what we need to do.”
The Sun is facing challenges that go deeper than just strategy. The team lost all five starters from last year, so new players like Rivers, Aneesah Morrow, and Jacy Sheldon have been recruited to help them find a fresh identity. Marina Mabrey, the team’s top scorer and a veteran, sees promise below the surface. “I know it hasn’t shown on the court much, but that goes a long way when you’re losing,” Mabrey said. “It helps to build a culture.”
That change in culture is where Rivers really shines. She was a national champion defender at South Carolina and an All-ACC defender at NC State. She brings winning experience and fearless energy to a team that needs both significantly. The attack isn’t working well—Connecticut is 13th in the country at only 29.1% for three-point shooting—but Rivers has shown moments of making plays and an offensive comfort that makes her look like she could be a long-term backcourt answer.
CT might not be able to save this season, but they have found something to build on in Saniya Rivers. She’s not just getting through her first year; she’s leading it. That spark might be the most crucial statistic for a club that is looking for direction.
