2025 WNBA Draft: N.C. State’s Saniya Rivers and Aziaha James might each be excessive picks, consultants say

Simply earlier than the buzzer signaled the tip of their remaining recreation collectively in Reynolds Coliseum, North Carolina State head coach Wes Moore walked over to the bench the place Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers have been sitting side-by-side, squatted down and wrapped his arms round their necks in a quick however heat hug and patted them on the again.

Over the previous few years, the backcourt duo had helped Moore win loads of video games and gave N.C. State followers who persistently offered out the historic venue in Raleigh a lot to cheer for. That second spherical NCAA Match victory over Michigan State was the twenty third consecutive house win for the Wolfpack in Reynolds, marking the longest house profitable streak in program historical past. As they exited the ground on March 24, the feelings James and Rivers have been going by way of have been obvious. James shed tears and blew kisses to the group, whereas Rivers jumped round with members of the band as she held a large smile.

For lots of these video games in Raleigh this season, there was all the time a seat or two reserved for a scout or coach of a WNBA group. Usually, James and Rivers impressed in entrance of them — like when James poured in 36 factors towards Duke, or when Rivers flirted with triple-doubles in wins over Notre Dame and Michigan State.

On Monday night time, of us will discover out for certain simply how a lot WNBA groups have been dazzled by the Wolfpack duo. Rivers and James have each been invited to attend the draft in New York, making N.C. State simply considered one of two groups to have a number of gamers invited to this 12 months’s choice present. The opposite is South Carolina.

Collectively over the past handful of years, Rivers and James made loads of historical past for N.C. State. As a freshman, James was on a group that gained the ACC’s common season and event titles. Rivers arrived as a sophomore switch from South Carolina, and as juniors the duo — together with Madison Hayes, River Baldwin, Mimi Collins and Zoe Brooks — powered the Wolfpack to the Ultimate 4. It was simply the second time in program historical past N.C. State had superior to the nationwide semifinals, and the primary time beneath Moore. This previous season, the Wolfpack have been co-regular season champs of the ACC and superior to the Candy 16, marking the sixth time within the final seven tournaments they’ve gone that far.

They’ll have the possibility to make extra historical past on Monday night time. If both is chosen within the first spherical of the draft, they’ll be simply the third N.C. State participant coached by Moore to be a primary spherical decide, becoming a member of Markeisha Gatling and Kiara Leslie.

If each are taken within the first spherical, it’ll mark the primary time ever that two N.C. State gamers have been picked within the opening spherical. It’ll additionally make it the primary time since 2007 that a number of Wolfpack merchandise have been picked in the identical draft.

Based mostly on what of us across the WNBA are saying, there’s an actual risk that each James and Rivers hear their names referred to as within the first 12 picks.

“Each are simply actually thrilling gamers that I feel are examples of the place the sport goes. Each extremely athletic, each in a position to stand up and down the court docket and play with velocity, each in a position to play a pair totally different positions,” stated Washington Mystics normal supervisor Jamila Wideman. “I feel each of them are examples of the sort of versatile exterior expertise that we’re simply starting to see extra persistently and unfold throughout the NCAA, and we’re about to look at that expertise enter our league.”

Added ESPN’s Andraya Carter: “I feel these two — they’re intriguing in numerous methods, however yeah, each very intriguing prospects.”

Picture by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photographs

Of the 2 gamers, Rivers appears to be the prospect that’s extra compelling, but additionally extra unknown. Her potential appears limitless, and her lanky 6-foot-1 body is simply what professional coaches are on the lookout for in an enormous guard. Through the years at N.C. State, Rivers has proven the power to defend gamers of all sizes, get to the rim at any time when she desires, and dish out slick passes for assists. This season, she averaged 11.9 factors, 6.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.3 blocks per recreation.

The native of Wilmington, North Carolina was a real Swiss-Military-Knife participant, doing slightly little bit of every part and stuffing the stat sheet for the Wolfpack. In N.C. State’s second spherical win over Michigan State, Rivers posted a stat line that no different Division I participant — man or lady — has had in an NCAA Match recreation this century: 17 factors, 11 assists, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

If there’s a criticism of Rivers, it’s that her 3-point capturing wants work. Whereas it has incrementally improved yearly that she’s been in school, it peaked this season at 27.2 p.c. Additionally worrisome is her profession 67.9 p.c success fee from the charity stripe.

However WNBA resolution makers don’t appear to be fearful. She’s a dynamic defender, has very good court docket imaginative and prescient and is a pure athlete with a excessive ceiling.

“She might in all probability deal with (defending) 1 by way of 3, slightly little bit of 4 at occasions. She’s acquired loads of size,” Chicago Sky normal supervisor Jeff Pagliocca stated. “Perhaps one of the best athlete, general athlete, within the draft. She’s confirmed she will guard a number of positions, which all the time issues in our league.”

Rivers completed her profession at N.C. State with two All-ACC First Crew and two ACC All-Defensive Crew picks, an ACC Sixth Participant of the Yr award as a sophomore, and rating within the prime 15 in program historical past in assists, steals and blocks — reaching these figures in simply three seasons.

“I’ve talked to a couple totally different GMs and coaches, simply with how athletic she is, her means to defend, her versatility, measurement, she will get to the rim in a single or two dribbles,” Carter says. “I feel the fashion that she performs, the athleticism — clearly, some participant improvement would wish to occur together with her jumpshot and that stage of consistency — however her athleticism alone and her means to defend, I feel, can be big.”

Picture by Steph Chambers/Getty Photographs

From a improvement and potential perspective, James is the much less tantalizing prospect of the 2, however she has made it well-known what she’s able to on the basketball court docket throughout her four-year profession with the Wolfpack, the place she’s improved every season in entrance of everybody’s eyes. This season, James posted career-bests in factors (17.9) and rebounds (4.9) per recreation whereas additionally capturing a career-high 44.5 p.c from the ground.

James additionally developed a knack for taking part in properly in massive video games. Of her 10 highest-scoring performances in school, eight of them have been towards ACC opponents or got here within the postseason. Seven of these video games have been performed at house in Reynolds, and 9 of them have been wins. Two of the thrice she topped the 30-point mark got here in video games towards Tobacco Street rival Duke.

“These guards simply have unbelievable vary,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey stated of N.C. State’s backcourt.

The 5-foot-10 lefty from Virginia Seashore has improved as a 3-point and free throw shooter over the previous two seasons, has proven extra effort in protection and rebounding, and her mixture of depraved velocity, clean deal with and a silky jumpshot makes her troublesome to protect. She will be able to refill the scoreboard shortly and her spotlight reel is full of performs the place she breaks ankles and boggles minds. She’s a artful finisher and a pure bucket-getter that leaves defenders bewildered.

James will depart N.C. State as a two-time All-ACC First Crew honoree and somebody who earned honorable point out All-American nods from the Related Press, USBWA and WBCA this season. She’s eighth all-time in games-played for the Wolfpack and seventh all-time in 3-pointers made.

It’s unclear the place she ranks in making moments that made the group at Reynolds roar, however considered one of her most memorable performs was her transition layup in time beyond regulation towards Notre Dame this season, the place she rotated the ball round her again earlier than sinking a bucket over Olivia Miles.

“She will be able to get on a heater,” Carter stated of James. “She’s a microwave scorer, a assured scorer. I feel, simply her means to attain alone as a lefty, coming off of ball screens, attending to the rim, mid vary, all of these sorts of issues.”

Spokane, Washington was the place the collegiate careers of Rivers and James got here to an finish in a Candy 16 loss to LSU. Within the postgame press convention although, there have been extra laughs than tears because the duo and Madison Hayes mirrored on their time at N.C. State with Wes Moore.

Earlier than leaving the dais, their remaining acts in N.C. State uniforms have been crowding round Moore for a postgame selfie, which elicited an enormous smile from the 67-year-old coach even after a season-ending defeat.

“Clearly, they made an unbelievable impression on the court docket so far as our means to win,” Moore stated. “However simply off the court docket too. I imply, they’re unbelievable, interacting with our followers and with children they usually symbolize our program — they’re ambassadors for our program in an unbelievable means. So, very blessed, it makes the journey much more enjoyable when you’ve gotten gamers and other people like that.”

At any time when James and Rivers hear their names referred to as on Monday night time, it’s a assure that their school coach can be sporting the largest grin and cheering the loudest. And he would possibly simply get the possibility to do it twice within the first spherical.