Saniya Rivers (No. 22) of the Hive BC showcased her dynamic two-way play against the Breeze BC on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Photo: Unrivaled Basketball)
MIAMI — Saniya Rivers is embracing the challenges of full-court, three-on-three basketball with Hive BC, learning to adapt while showcasing the defensive skills that have defined her performances thus far in the 2026 Unrivaled Basketball season.
A determined Hive BC faced an equally formidable Breeze BC in a game that tested both stamina and chemistry. Rivers, a versatile guard coming off a strong WNBA rookie season with the Connecticut Sun, stood out for her presence in the paint and her ability to shift momentum with timely blocks against Paige Bueckers and Kate Martin, even in a 73‑62 loss at Sephora Arena.
“Blocks on everyone. All of my blocks feel really good,” Rivers said. “I feel like it gets the momentum going, gets the crowd into it. I don’t… I just love playing defense and what I’m learning about myself is that this league is tough. I’ve never played three-on-three like outside of just pick up in the half court. So now we’re going up and down.
“It’s obviously more space. You gotta get in help side, you gotta rotate. Sometimes you gotta guard out of position, but I’m learning to adapt, and I think that’s the biggest thing in this league. And I think I’m doing well so far. Only two games, we got 12 to go.”
Hive BC head coach Rena Wakama, an assistant coach with the Chicago Sky of the WNBA, highlighted the unique pace of three-on-three play and its impact on team preparation.
“You can’t dig yourself in a hole. I think that’s evident,” Wakama shared. “Last game, same exact thing, we dug ourself in a hole, and we come out, and it’s just not good enough here because it’s only a shortened game than we’re used to in five-on-five. Shortened game, obviously, with the Elam ending, like, you can’t dig yourself in a hole because it’s be hard to get yourself out.”
The team, entirely new to the league with five new players and Wakama at the helm, is still establishing rhythm and trust.
“Yeah. I mean, we can only go up from here. We’ve made some improvements from game one to game two,” she said. “We still have a lot to work on. I was able to play around with some lineups and get some success in that. But the key thing is just staying together and staying positive. Like, it will turn, but we gotta stay committed to the process and staying together.”
Rivers’ defensive style is central to the Hive BC’s identity in youth and experience. Rivers’ dynamic play pairs up efficiently with Sonia Citron‘s offensive prowess while veteran guile from Ezi Magbegor, Kelsey Mitchell, Monique Billings and Natisha Hiedeman anchor the Hive BC with savvy and grit.
Wakama noted that it stands on its own merits in terms of not comparing her star, two-way player with other stars of the past.
Saniya Rivers (No. 22 of the Hive BC) tallied six blocks against the Breeze BC. (Photo: Unrivaled Media)
“Oh, man. Saniya reminds me of Saniya,” Wakama offered. “Like, I can’t compare her to anybody else but herself. She’s talented. She affects the game on she can guard anybody. So I don’t think of anybody, I only think of Saniya.”
Rivers herself credits hard work and energy as the drivers behind her defensive performance.
“I just look up to defenders who work hard. I think defense is in your control,” Rivers said. “It’s about the energy. It’s the want to. It’s the drive. Offense, obviously can’t control if the ball goes in the basket. You can control your shot selection.
“But me, just energy, I can’t control if the shot goes in, but I can give energy. I can be on help side, get some blocks, get some steals, get some momentum.”
Her approach was on full display against Breeze BC’s high-profile players.
“This isn’t new. I don’t know why coaches be telling me to go post me up because I’m a fight,” Rivers stated. “I’m a fighter on both ends of the floor. So, I mean, they’re gonna keep doing it, and I’m gonna keep doing what I do. Yeah. I don’t know. It doesn’t really offend me too much, but I’m just gonna do what I do.”
For Wakama, the effort and learning curve are part of a larger developmental process with a team that can match hustle and grit against their seven opposing teams.
Saniya Rivers listens in during a time out huddle with Hive BC head coach Rena Wakama. (Photo: Unrivaled Media)
“Just the second half. The second half is who I want to be, who I want our team to be,” she said. “Doesn’t matter, like I said, Saniya was guarding Dom [Dominique Malonga], and we didn’t back down. But like I said before, we gotta start games like that. And new team, five new players to this league, new coach, like, we’re gonna get it, but we just gotta keep working.”
Rivers also acknowledged the importance of collective effort in transition, something Hive BC is beginning to emphasize.
“I think as a team, as a collective, we said that we want teams to fill our presence in transition,” Rivers acknowledged. “I think we’re one of the quickest teams in the league, and I think we were… we have to start showcasing that. I think it starts with getting stops on defense in order to get out in transition, and we did that a couple of times tonight and it was fun. But we have to do more of it. Like coach says, second half is how we wanna play the whole game, but second half is only the second half.
“We gotta put all the minutes together so we have more time instead of digging ourselves out of holes, gotta punch first. Something I feel like we have to work on. We gotta limit the one-on-one. It’s three-on-three. Obviously, we’re gonna have to get some one-on-one buckets, but I think the more we move the ball, the more we share it, we’re gonna have fun, and we’re gonna feed off each other momentum. And I think we’ll go up from there once we start working on that a little bit.”
Wakama’s perspective on the team’s collective approach underscores her commitment to developing both chemistry and discipline.
“We have a cerebral group,” she said. “Their attention to detail and their will to come in here every day and work, what they’re retaining is really good to see. Movement, space, and understanding how to get buckets and get stops. As we grow through these weeks, we’re going to continue to get comfortable with one another.”
The Hive’s approach in Miami reflects a balance of learning and competing, with Rivers’ defensive contributions providing a focal point.
As Hive BC presses on in its inaugural season in Unrivaled’s second year, Rivers’ defensive presence, adaptability, and the team’s shared growth represent the early storylines to watch. The league’s fast-paced, three-on-three format is demanding, but Rivers’ response suggests she’s ready to meet it head-on going into Sunday night’s game against the Mist BC (8:45 p.m. ET on truTV and HBO Max).
