​How Long Is Saniya Rivers Out? Ankle Injury Updates and Return Timeline for Connecticut Sun Star (Originally Appeared on NESN)
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One bright spot for the Connecticut Sun this season could be sidelined after a brutal-looking ankle injury suffered against the Minnesota Lynx on July 8. Guard Saniya Rivers exited Wednesday’s game with about 7:16 remaining in the second quarter after driving to the basket for a layup that was blocked by Nia Coffey. Rivers landed awkwardly on her left foot and immediately appeared to be in significant pain, with one of her shoes coming off during the sequence. She was taken to the locker room and did not return for the remainder of the game. The Sun fell to the Lynx 86-80, marking Cheryl Reeve’s ascent to the WNBA’s all-time wins record as a head coach.
Here are the latest injuries and projected return timeline for Rivers. On July 8, Rivers suffered an ankle sprain against the Lynx, and it was announced that she would be unavailable for the July 10 game against the Golden State Valkyries. The injury marks another setback for Rivers, who previously limped through an ankle issue on June 22 against the Chicago Sky and did not return until July 2.
Before the injury, Rivers, the No. 8 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, had started 12 of 21 games for the Sun this season. Beyond the July 10 game against the Valkyries, there is no official timetable for her return, as the team and medical staff assess the severity of the sprain and monitor her recovery.
If Rivers’ prior injury trajectory offers any clue, a return could be possible around July 22 against the Indiana Fever. There is also a possibility she could wait and return after the All-Star break on July 28 vs. the Washington Mystics, depending on how the ankle responds to rehab and conditioning. The exact return date remains contingent on the injury’s severity and Rivers’ progress in rehabilitation.
Before the injury, Rivers led the Sun in assists per game. Her season statistics up to that point included: 21 games played, 12 started; 22.7 minutes per game; 6.8 points per game; 2.4 rebounds per game; 3.1 assists per game; 1.0 steals per game; 0.7 blocks per game; shooting percentages: field goal 34.4%, three-point 18.6%, and free throw 68.4%.
Here is Connecticut’s remaining July schedule for reference:
– July 10: vs. Valkyries, 7:30 p.m. ET
– July 14: vs. Fire, 11:00 a.m. ET
– July 17: at Mercury, 10:00 p.m. ET
– July 19: at Mercury, 7:00 p.m. ET
– July 22: at Fever, 8:00 p.m. ET
– July 28: at Mystics, 7:30 p.m. ET
– July 30: at Sky, 8:00 p.m. ET
This outline provides the latest available information on Saniya Rivers’ ankle injury and potential return timeline, including how the team might pace her recovery and what factors will influence her availability in the late July schedule. Stay tuned for updates as more medical details become available and Rivers’ rehabilitation progresses.