Saniya Rivers Makes Immediate Noise as Must-Watch WNBA Rookie

It felt nearly impossible to watch a Connecticut Sun possession and not see the rookie guard being active on the ball.

Sep 1, 2025; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Sun guard Saniya Rivers (22) reacts after a play against the Atlanta Dream in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena. David Butler II-Imagn Images / David Butler II-Imagn Images

Whether it’s arms flashing, feet sliding, instincts firing, everywhere the ball went, she wasn’t too far behind. During the WNBA Defense Week, Saniya Rivers didn’t just make plays; she made noise.

Throughout basketball history, there have been different types of defenders; some defenders guard their match-up, and some rotate and communicate. Some very rare defenders take over the game with pure defensive activity. Rivers has proven that she can be that player for the Sun.

Rivers Creates Controlled Chaos 

From the opening tip, she played like she has a sixth sense for disruption. A ball-handler hesitated, and Rivers was already en route, sliding into her path to cause havoc. At any moment a shot goes up, she found herself either contesting, blocking, rebounding, or leaking out for easy transition points. 

Everywhere you looked… Saniya Rivers was in the action 😤

Deflections, steals, blocks and pure defensive activity from the rook!#WNBADefenseWeek pic.twitter.com/KKB8KxjSq9

— WNBA (@WNBA) November 28, 2025

A player like Rivers, the box score will never tell the full story. The elevation in her game is the ability to cause chaos, which the numbers don’t always represent. She’s a threat on both ends of the floor and needs to be accounted for before suiting up against the Sun. Rivers is a rare defender who can make defense feel similar to offense. 

Optimism in Saniya Rivers Potential

One sequence from the night summoned up her philosophy; she poked the ball loose at the top of the key, nearly securing a steal, and eventually chased it down in the corner. While chasing the loose ball to the corner, she forced the ball-handler to panic and force a sideline pass, recovered back to the lane, and then ultimately blocked the shot at the rim. The crowd and the rest of the viewers had a similar reaction when they all seemed in disbelief.

This is who she is and who she intends to be.

Coaches often rave about players who bring their own energy and swag to the game; Rivers brings enough to power a building. Despite the team struggling this season, her intensity didn’t dip.

Her arms were always active, her feet always explosive, and her voice was relentless on the court. Rookies normally don’t command a defense like that, but she has and will continue to do so for the Sun.

The veterans feed off it, for example, in the clip she steals a pass midcourt and turns it into a fast break layup, and the bench explodes. Rivers jogged back, calm expression, illuminating laser focus, and expectation. 

What’s Next ?

Saniya Rivers / David Butler II-Imagn Images

Sun fans should expect more deflections, steals, and crazy blocks. The more possessions where she’s three steps ahead are always turning to additional points for the Sun. Everywhere you look on the court, expect Rivers to be there.

The rookie who made defense impossible to ignore!

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