VIDEO + QUOTES: Hayes, James, Rivers Discuss Rematch Versus LSU

NC State's Madison Hayes, Aziaha James, and Saniya Rivers met with the media ahead of the Wolfpack's 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Sweet Sixteen matchup versus LSU

NOTE: Click on the video in the player above to watch the Wolfpack’s press conference.

Madison, it seems like your season really sort of took a change when Tilda [Trygger] entered the starting lineup. Wondering what difference she's brought to you guys.

MH: I feel like Tilda has came in out of position, trying to be a center. I feel like she's done a great job, obviously, for us. She's six-six. So it's really hard to go against that size. But she's been great for us shooting, she's done great -- she's getting better being more physical, and that's what we kind of emphasize for her. But I feel like she's done a great job, so she will continue to do that as well for us.

Saniya, you guys have familiarity because you played earlier. How much different of a team are you now compared to back then when you played? And what are some takeaways that you can take from that game to learn from?

SR: I think we're a much different team. At the beginning of the season we were still trying to get a feel of each other, get a grasp. Obviously, we had a lot of returners, but I feel like with the freshmen coming in and people playing out of position, we just weren't very comfortable and confident. So as the season went along, and we started putting pieces together, I would say we're a much different team. So even though we lost to LSU early, I hope people don't look at that because we're a different team, and we're ready to compete tomorrow.

Saniya, a long trip, but the Northwest was very good to you last year en route to the Final Four. Do you like coming back out here?

SR: That flight is long, five hours. But we find stuff to do. We sleep, we eat, we play games. We just keep ourself occupied. I'm glad we came out here a day or two earlier so that we can get used to the time change. We were out here last year, so it's not something that we're not used to. But I mean, we've gotten some rest and I think we're adjusting and I think we'll be definitely ready for tomorrow.

All three of you have a lot of experience in this tournament, so how do you -- for the younger players that haven't been here, had the experience, how do you get them into the mindset of where ya'll are in this tournament and where you're trying to go?

MH: I feel like for the freshmen, we always try to keep in mind that this is their first time being here and obviously giving them that experience to be here because not a lot of people can say they have been here before. But just making sure obviously treatment is a big thing, making sure recovery is huge for us, especially on this long stretch for the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight because we're playing really tough teams. But at the end of the day, when you go out there, you just got to be ready for when your number is called because everybody brings different things to the table for us. So I think they -- the only thing that I can say for them is just be ready.

AJ: Yeah, same thing what she said. We been here since last year -- like, last year. Sorry. So we know the steps, we know the key, so it's just a matter of them following behind us and us leading the way as captains and for them to be ready when their number's called.

SR: I think they said it all. I'm good. Yeah, they said it all. Don't need to repeat nothing (laughing).

With being seasoned in this tournament, what changes have you seen over the years? Obviously, there was an incident a few years back with inequity in training facilities between the women's tournament and the men's. So have you seen any positive changes in that in the last few years?

SR: I think the gear's starting to fit a lot better. I think my first year here, I got my stuff, and the shorts were hanging to my knees, and the stuff was just oversized. But I think when we started going on social media and posting that and saying, Hey, this isn't fair. The dudes' stuff, theirs is fitting, and now it fit real good and I have no complaints, so, yeah (laughing).

MH: I got nothing to say to that.

AJ: No, nothing.

USC lost JuJu to a season-ending injury, and I wanted to get your reaction to that and how do you feel about being in a tournament and injuries are a real possibility at this point and just wanted to get your thoughts on all of that.

MH: It's crazy that you said that because we me and Niya were watching it in the room together. Obviously it's very unfortunate, you don't want things to happen like that to great players, or any player in that matter. We're sorry about that. Nothing that -- she could have done nothing to prevent that. I feel like Mississippi State didn't do anything as well. I think it was just a basketball play and it ended up happening that way. We just got to keep praying for her and just hope for the best for her in her recovery.

AJ: Definitely, JuJu is one of the faces of women's basketball today and the whole nation has got her back on this. We're praying for her. Hoping for a speedy recovery. Just the thoughts of that, like she said, it sucks, and her team's going to keep pushing for her and they're going to have her back.

SR: Yeah, for me I don't know JuJu personally, but obviously she's done a lot for our game, brought a lot of attention, done a lot for her university, her teammates. Hoping for speedy recovery. I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and unfortunately we don't want things like that to happen, but I just know she's going to bounce back better than ever, so I'm looking forward to it.