SEATTLE -- As the Connecticut Sun continue navigating their difficult 2-14 season, rookie point guard Saniya Rivers (Suh-NIGH-uh) is playing through a personal tragedy. Shortly after being drafted eighth overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, her mom, Demetria, nicknamed "Dee", passed away due to congestive heart failure. Following a series of heart problems dating back to Rivers’ freshman year of college, her mom passed with her loved ones by her bedside. While grieving the loss of her best friend, Rivers remembers the lessons she learned and the signs her mom is still watching her basketball journey.

With WNBA aspirations, Rivers took the challenge head-on of following in her family’s footsteps. Her mom played college basketball at UNC Wilmington, and that motivated her to want to play, too. Before Connecticut’s 97-81 loss to the Seattle Storm, Rivers discussed the significant role her mom played in pursuing a professional basketball career and overcoming adversity during tough times.

“[My mom] played in college at UNCW, so just seeing all of my family playing made me want to play,” she said. “My mom motivated me to really push through adversity. So even when things weren’t going my way, my mom was always right there to tell me to keep pushing…Now I’m [in the league] because of her.”

When times were tough in her basketball journey, Rivers’ mom was a big motivation to keep going, and that paid off in the end. Before her senior season at NC State, Rivers was doubting her ability to play in the league. While she had many people in her corner, her mom’s sacrifices motivated Rivers to go after a dream she left behind.

“I think my mom sacrificed a lot for me, because this was her dream to be in the pro level…,” Rivers said. “...I think the reason I kept going was because I wanted her to be able to live another life through me. So [being in the WNBA] was her dream for me, and this was her dream for herself. I got here because of her, and I wish she was here to really see [my dream come true], but now she has the best seat in the house every night.”

Rivers was inspired by the sacrifices her mother made, and she continues to live out both of their dreams every night with her biggest fan watching every day. On April 14th, 2025, Rivers was selected by the Sun with her family, including her mom, there to witness her life-changing moment. When she reflected on that experience, Rivers felt gratitude that her mom was able to attend despite being sick for an extensive period.

“I’m just glad she was at the table with me,” she said. “My mom was sick for a long time, and just to know that she pushed [through being sick] to see that day through with me, it’s honestly an amazing feeling…I’m just honestly so grateful for everything she’s done for me the past 22 years to get me [to the league], and I can’t ask for anything more in a better mom.”

All the sacrifices her mom made to support her dream finally paid off on that night when she was drafted by Connecticut. At a season ticket holder event, Rivers was pulled to the side by GM Morgan Tuck with fellow rookies Aneesah Morrow (uh-nees-UH) and Madison Hayes. When they were told a family emergency had happened, Rivers knew to expect the worst. With her mom in the hospital on life support after fluid buildup in her lungs, she caught an early morning flight to North Carolina. After a slight layover, Rivers arrived at the hospital and spent the last eight minutes of her mom’s life with her. She died on April 30th, 2025. When reflecting on her reaction to the news and the moments leading to her mom’s passing, Rivers felt sad but also grateful for the remaining time she had.

“I remember Morgan, our GM, pulled me to the back with Aneesa and Madison [during the season ticket holder event]…and next thing you know, she’s just like ‘your family member’s in the hospital’, and instantly my stomach just drops…,” Rivers said. “...So eight minutes after I got [to the hospital] is when the beeping went off, so you know I got the eight minutes…I’m honestly blessed I got eight minutes with her, and I got to see her before, obviously, they pulled the cord....”

After hearing the news of her mom’s hospitalization, Rivers was able to be with her before she died, and she’s forever grateful for that. Going through a personal loss is hard for any player, especially while adjusting to the league. To stay as composed as she can, Rivers relies on her teammates who have been there when times are tough. Although many names came to mind, she singled out one teammate who is doing their part to be there for her on and off the court.

“I want to say Marina [Mabrey],” Rivers said. “I think to this day, she’s the one that’s still really helping [me] get through, because, you know, nobody sees what goes on behind [closed] doors…I still have days where I cry every day for hours just because I miss my mom, and [Mabrey]’s always there for me.”

Rivers has gotten support from everyone around her on the Sun, but Mabrey is playing a special role in helping her through a dark time. As she goes through a tough season, Rivers listens to her mom’s voice giving her the best advice she’s received during her basketball journey.

“I feel like just being more aggressive [towards the basket],” she said. “I feel like I really have to listen to my mom’s voice now, especially at this level, just to push the ball and really [keep] attacking because her best [advice] to me is that nobody can guard you. That’s what my mom would always say [and] she wanted me to have confidence in myself.”

The guidance Rivers got from her mom to be more aggressive and hearing her voice echo as she plays has helped instill confidence in herself, which is important for any pro. When someone loses a friend or family member, they can experience signs in their life that they are being watched over. Rivers was given those signs by her mom to cut out the people in her life who took away her positive energy and weren’t good for her.

“Immediately after my mom passed, my block list grew,” she said. “It was like my mom was giving signs [that] this person isn’t good for you, you need to get rid of them, and I listened immediately…So for me, just really blocking out those people who aren’t adding value to my life and really are being vampires, just sucking away my good energy….”

The signs that her mom gave her to throw away the people who didn’t add value to her life played a huge role in how she lives her life today. With Rivers navigating life as a pro, she reflected on the biggest lesson her mom taught her while she was alive. She talked about loving herself and coming out of her shell by being her authentic self, like her mom was.

“[The biggest lesson my mom taught me was] just to love myself,” Rivers said. “I think a lot of people get caught up in [whether] other people like them, or if other people love them…my mom wasn’t always her authentic self around people because she was a little shy [and] a little nervous, but I feel like with me, you know, I’m not nervous or shy at all so I feel like her telling me that just really got me out of my shell and helped get me here.”