Saniya Rivers

The No. 8 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Rivers had a rollercoaster rookie season. She scored in double figures 17 times, averaging 13.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks in 29.8 minutes while posting 48/43/83 shooting splits. However, in her other 25 appearances, Rivers posted only 5.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists a night. One thing that remained consistent throughout the entire campaign was her defense, which should give her a strong chance at carving out a starting role in 2026, especially after Marina Mabrey went to Toronto in the WNBA Expansion Draft. Rivers started 25 of her 42 appearances in 2025, so a full-time starting role wouldn't be surprising, though Connecticut also brought in Gianna Kneepkens in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Draft. However, from a fantasy perspective, Rivers' playing time will be key. She averaged 26.1 minutes per game in her first season, which was fourth on the team, but only one player saw more than 30 minutes per game (Mabrey). If the Sun are conservative with minutes again, Rivers may struggle to reach her upside in Year 2, but her defensive prowess gives her a strong fantasy floor. Read Past Outlooks