Rivers was heavily recruited as a Hoggard High School standout. She led Hoggard to a 100 – 14 overall record and four consecutive conference and tournament championships in her four seasons starting at the point guard slot. Rivers, a 5-8 point guard from Wilmington’s Hoggard High School, was ranked as the 11th best point guard and 39th best overall player in the country by All Star Girls Report. She is a two-time Mideastern 4A conference Player of the Year and three time Team Most Valuable Player. She averaged 13.2 points and 6.1 assists her junior season while leading her team to the conference title with a perfect 12-0 record. Rivers was also nominated for the McDonalds All American Team, played on North Carolina’s Junior Olympic team, both North Carolina vs South Carolina All Star game, the North Carolina East vs North Carolina West games in 2000 and was runner up voting for North Carolina female athlete of the year. Rivers also had talent in volleyball. She was a three time conference MVP in volleyball and received 3 volleyball full scholarship offers. She then chose to accept a full basketball scholarship to NC State over UNC.

Rivers was welcomed to NC State by the late Legendary Hall of Fame Coach, Kay Yow. Rivers graduated from North Carolina State with a degree in Criminology and a minor in Sociology. During her freshman season, Rivers helped lead the Wolfpack to a Sweet Sixteen birth and captured the GlaxoSmithKline Welcome All Tournament team, tournament MVP and Rex Health Care player of the game awards. Rivers is ranked second in school history with the most assist in one game. Lead the ACC in Assist to Turnover ratio and made the All ACC defensive team her senior season. She was voted team captain her junior and senior seasons. Team voted Preseason Award, Best team supporter award, 110% effort award and Off Season Award. Following her graduation, Rivers was a European Professional player in Den Helder, Holland, where she led the team in capturing two National Championships. Rivers was first on the team in scoring and assists. The following years, Rivers played in Bensberg, Germany, Kotka, Finland and Lesno, Poland where she led the teams in points, assists.

After her playing career she decided to trade in her sneakers for some high heels and a seat on the bench as an assistant coach. She spent her 5 year coaching career in New Jersey. Rivers had the luxury to assist Hall of Famer Anne Donovan at Seton Hall University for three years. Coaching three student athletes towards all conference team honors. After that she spent two years under her former NC State Assistant Coach, Jennifer Palmateer at Monmouth University.

With her feet still on the playing court, Rivers decided to join the dark side and now spends her time as a NCAA Basketball Referee. Due to her strong leadership abilities, Rivers has a knack for helping others tap into their greatest potentials. Rivers owns her own Life Coaching business, Nanna Rivers Coaching and she manages Juice Keys, an organic Juice bar in Raleigh, NC.