North Carolina State University Athletics
WNBA #PackPro Roundup: James, Rivers Set for WNBA Opening Weekend
5/8/2026 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
RALEIGH – The NC State women's basketball program has two alumnae representing the Wolfpack in the WNBA during the 2026 season. Aziaha James is set for her second season with the Dallas Wings and Saniya Rivers is coming up on her second campaign with the Connecticut Sun.
The WNBA is set for its 30th regular season beginning on Friday, May 8th, featuring a 44-game schedule for each of the league's teams. Rivers and the Sun are set to face the New York Liberty at the Barclays Center on Friday at 7:30 p.m. on ION. James and the Wings will face the Indiana Fever on Saturday, May 9 on primetime at 1 p.m. on ABC.
James was drafted in the first round, 12th overall, by the Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft. In her rookie campaign, she appeared in 38 games with eight starts, averaging 7.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.6 steals per game. James tallied a career-high 28 points, nailing five triples, against the Phoenix Mercury. She became the fifth rookie in WNBA history to tally 25+ points, 5+ assists, 5+ rebounds and 5+ 3-pointers made in a game in that contest vs. the Mercury. James was the first rookie in franchise history to reach each of those marks in a game. The Virginia Beach, Virginia native also logged three 20+ point outings and 12 10+ point games.
In the Wings' two preseason games, James showed a massive spark off the bench, averaging 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game. James played a team-high 31 minutes off the bench vs. the Fever, registering 17 points, seven rebounds, three assists and four steals. James followed that up with a team-high 18 points with four rebounds and two assists and steals vs. the reigning WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces. James delivered several highlight-reel type plays in both games.
Rivers was selected in the first round at eighth overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2025 WNBA Draft to become the highest drafted player in school history. She made an impact from the jump, appearing in 25 regular season games with 11 starts. Rivers averaged 8.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. She continued to stuff the stat sheet as she did throughout her collegiate career, finishing first in blocks, third in steals, fourth in assists, sixth in points and ninth in rebounds per game amongst rookies. Rivers broke franchise single rookie records for most 3-point field goals made (43) and stocks (100). She was the only rookie in the league to hit the 100-stock mark and one of just seven players across the league to achieve that feat last season.
Additionally, Rivers scored 10+ points 17 different times last year, including a career-high 20 points vs. the Los Angeles Sparks. She became the only rookie in Sun history to finish her first season with at least 370 points, 115 rebounds, 110 assists and 60 steals. The only other rookie in WNBA history to achieve those stats was Tamika Cathings (Indiana Fever) in 2002. Rivers started in both of the Sun's preseason games this season. She logged three assists and played 21 minutes vs. the Toronto Tempo and registered six points, two rebounds, four assists and one block and steal in 24 minutes against the New York Liberty.
Rivers and James will square off on Thursday, July 2 at 8 p.m. in Hartford, Connecticut on Prime, as well as Sunday, Aug. 2 at 7 p.m. on ESPN and Sunday, Aug. 30 at 8 p.m. in Arlington, Texas.
