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

Simply earlier than the buzzer signaled the tip of their ultimate recreation collectively in Reynolds Coliseum, North Carolina State head coach Wes Moore walked over to the bench the place Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers had 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 plenty of video games and gave N.C. State followers who constantly 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 residence win for the Wolfpack in Reynolds, marking the longest residence successful streak in program historical past. As they exited the ground on March 24, the feelings James and Rivers had been going by way of had 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 at all times a seat or two reserved for a scout or coach of a WNBA staff. Usually, James and Rivers impressed in entrance of them — like when James poured in 36 factors in opposition to Duke, or when Rivers flirted with triple-doubles in wins over Notre Dame and Michigan State.

On Monday night time, people will discover out for certain simply how a lot WNBA groups had 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 plenty of historical past for N.C. State. As a freshman, James was on a staff that received the ACC’s common season and match 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 Closing 4. It was simply the second time in program historical past N.C. State had superior to the nationwide semifinals, and the primary time below Moore. This previous season, the Wolfpack had 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 prospect 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 choose, 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 would additionally make it the primary time since 2007 that a number of Wolfpack merchandise had been picked in the identical draft.

Primarily based on what people across the WNBA are saying, there’s an actual chance that each James and Rivers hear their names known as within the first 12 picks.

“Each are simply actually thrilling gamers that I believe are examples of the place the sport goes. Each extremely athletic, each in a position to stand up and down the courtroom and play with pace, each in a position to play a pair totally different positions,” stated Washington Mystics basic supervisor Jamila Wideman. “I believe each of them are examples of the type of versatile exterior expertise that we’re simply starting to see extra constantly and unfold throughout the NCAA, and we’re about to observe that expertise enter our league.”

Added ESPN’s Andraya Carter: “I believe 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 in addition extra unknown. Her potential appears limitless, and her lanky 6-foot-1 body is simply what professional coaches are on the lookout for in a giant guard. Through the years at N.C. State, Rivers has proven the flexibility 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 just a little little bit of every thing 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 girl — 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 charge from the charity stripe.

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

“She may most likely deal with (defending) 1 by way of 3, just a little little bit of 4 at occasions. She’s received plenty of size,” Chicago Sky basic supervisor Jeff Pagliocca stated. “Perhaps the very best athlete, general athlete, within the draft. She’s confirmed she will guard a number of positions, which at all times issues in our league.”

Rivers completed her profession at N.C. State with two All-ACC First Group and two ACC All-Defensive Group alternatives, 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 some 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 believe the model that she performs, the athleticism — clearly, some participant improvement would want to occur along with her jumpshot and that degree of consistency — however her athleticism alone and her means to defend, I believe, could be large.”

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 courtroom 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 nicely in massive video games. Of her 10 highest-scoring performances in school, eight of them had been in opposition to ACC opponents or got here within the postseason. Seven of these video games had been performed at residence in Reynolds, and 9 of them had been wins. Two of the 3 times she topped the 30-point mark got here in video games in opposition to 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 Seaside 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 pace, clean deal with and a silky jumpshot makes her tough to protect. She will be able to refill the scoreboard rapidly and her spotlight reel is crammed with 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 Group 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 in opposition to 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 believe, simply her means to attain alone as a lefty, coming off of ball screens, attending to the rim, mid vary, all of these kinds 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 ultimate acts in N.C. State uniforms had been crowding round Moore for a postgame selfie, which elicited a giant smile from the 67-year-old coach even after a season-ending defeat.

“Clearly, they made an unbelievable influence on the courtroom so far as our means to win,” Moore stated. “However simply off the courtroom too. I imply, they’re unbelievable, interacting with our followers and with youngsters and so they characterize our program — they’re ambassadors for our program in an unbelievable approach. So, very blessed, it makes the journey much more enjoyable when you might have gamers and folks like that.”

Every time James and Rivers hear their names known as on Monday night time, it’s a assure that their school coach shall be sporting the most important grin and cheering the loudest. And he may simply get the prospect to do it twice within the first spherical.