WILMINGTON, N.C. – The UNCW women's basketball program will host the inaugural Dee Dee Toon Rivers Luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wilmington Convention Center.

Originally from Whiteville, North Carolina, Toon Rivers passed away at the age of 47 earlier this year on April 30 in Wilmington. She was a successful two-sport student-athlete at UNCW from 1995-99 as a member of the Seahawks' women's basketball and women's track and field programs and stayed in Wilmington after college. 

The luncheon will honor the memory of Toon Rivers and also serve as a fundraiser for the UNCW women's basketball program, bridging the Wilmington business community to the UNCW women's basketball student-athletes.

"Dee Dee was a beloved figure at UNCW and in the city of Wilmington," head coach Nicole Woods said. "She left a lasting impression on everyone she encountered. It was my honor to name this event after her. We are grateful to honor her memory in this manner!"

Toon Rivers played in 107 career games for the women's basketball team, averaging 6.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game as a senior during the 1998-99 season. 

As a women's track and field athlete, Toon Rivers still ranks third all-time in program history in the outdoor triple jump with a leap of 12.10 meters (39-8 1/2). At the time, her mark at the 1999 Coastal Athletic Association Outdoor Track and Field Championships set the new UNCW program record.

Her daughter, Saniya Rivers, will serve as the guest speaker for the event. Rivers is a current member of the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA and was the eighth overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft on April 14.

Rivers won a national championship as a freshman at South Carolina and later transferred to NC State, where she was a two-time All-ACC first-team selection and a two-time member of the ACC's All-Defensive Team. 

At Eugene Ashley High School in Wilmington, Rivers was ranked as the No. 3 overall player in the class of 2021 by ESPN and was the 2021 Gatorade National Player of the Year. 

The event is open to the public, and sponsorship packages are available. For more information, please visit the Dee Dee Toon Rivers Luncheon event website. If interested in becoming a sponsor, please visit the event website or contact Samantha Cleary with the UNCW Seahawk Club at (910) 962-7737 or clearys@uncw.edu