South Carolina women's basketball: Saniya Rivers faces her former teammates
South Carolina Women’s Basketball: News • Recruiting • Schedule • Roster • Stats • SEC Standings • NCAA Polls • Scholarship Chart
Friday’s semifinal game between NC State and South Carolina features a reunion between Wolfpack guard Saniya Rivers and the team she signed with and won a national championship with in 2022.
Rivers transferred after that season, citing a bad fit at South Carolina. She signed during the Covid pandemic and didn’t get to visit before signing.
“I learned a lot from Dawn as I was there,” Rivers said. “I learned a lot from the point guards that were there. Obviously Henny and Zia, they were older than me. And just watching them, especially being the point guard that I am now, I will say that I did learn things from them because they were the leaders when I was there.”
Rivers, who infamously made her first career three-pointer and then missed her next 30 (or one for “God knows what,” as she put it) has improved to 25.8% from three. She averages 12.7 points, 6,.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.
“Rivers is running the show for them,” Staley said later. “She’s a point guard that facilitates everything. She’s a stat-filler.”
Staley still keeps in touch with her former player.
“I’m super proud of Rivers. I often text with her and her parents. I texted them yesterday or two days ago when they won and they found themselves in the Final Four,” Staley said. “Once you’re a part of our family, whether you stay or whether you transfer, you’re always going to have me as a resource. You’re always going to have me as someone that wants you to do extremely well. And I’m proud of Rivers. I really am. Obviously, we knew she was a tremendous player. And it’s unfortunate that her talents aren’t on display in a Gamecock uniform, but the most important thing, her talents will be on display at a Final Four.”
On Thursday, Rivers didn’t want to get into the reasons why she transferred. She did appreciate Staley’s continued support.
“I won’t speak too much on why I transferred, but just because we’re trying to focus on the game this weekend,” Rivers said. “But she’s a great person. Like you mentioned, we still talk to this day. She congratulates me on accomplishments. And I do the same thing. If it’s her birthday, I wish her a happy birthday. She’s the type of person you want to have in your corner for future opportunities even if she can’t be your coach or I can’t be her player. We’re really excited about this match-up. We saw each other yesterday, hugged it out. First time I’ve seen her in two years. It’s going to be a friendly battle.”
“I saw Saniya Rivers yesterday at an event and we were talking it up. I was telling her be ready for tomorrow,” Raven Johnson said. “She was singing a song and I was telling her she couldn’t sing. We still have that connection, but tomorrow on the court is no friends.”
Sania Feagin said that she doesn’t talk to Rivers often but wishes her well.
“It’s no bad blood. She’s doing really good in the tournament,” Feagin said.
Feagin, Rivers, Johnson, and Hall were part of the same signing class, and Kamilla Cardoso arrived with them as a transfer. The remaining Gamecocks expressed their pleasure in seeing Rivers develop and succeed.
[On3 App: Get South Carolina push notifications from GamecockCentral]
“I don’t talk to her too much, however, I’ve seen her game grow a lot,” Bree Hall said. “She’s a really good point guard. Her defense is good. I’ve seen a lot of improvement in her game.”
“It’s going to be good,” Kamilla Cardoso said. “Me and Saniya, we still talk to each other. I’m proud that she’s found a place where she’s happy at. It’s going to be a game like playing anybody else.”
“Saniya Rivers has grown a lot from here to NC State,” Johnson said. “She’s developed her game in multiple ways. Seeing her scoring the ball, defending, the way she’s getting her teammates the ball.”
