Photo Credit: Getty Imagies
Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball have added highly regarded international prospect Ajša Sivka to their roster, head coach Kenny Brooks confirmed on Wednesday. The program has not yet clarified how many years of eligibility the 20-year-old guard will have.
Brooks expressed enthusiasm about the signing, highlighting Sivka's versatility and experience. He described her as a player whose combination of size and skill makes her a strong fit for the team's system. Standing at 6-foot-4, Sivka brings scoring ability, playmaking, and perimeter shooting from the wing position, qualities expected to strengthen Kentucky's lineup.
Originally from Slovenia, Sivka was selected 10th overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky. However, she chose to remain in Europe rather than immediately begin her professional career, continuing to develop her game while representing the Slovenian national team.
She competed in the FIBA Women's EuroBasket, where she averaged 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assist across three games while shooting efficiently from the field. Her standout performance came against Italy, where she scored 16 points with near-perfect shooting, including an impressive display from beyond the arc.
Sivka's résumé also includes significant achievements at the youth level. She was named Most Valuable Player and earned All-Star Five honors at the 2023 FIBA U18 Women's European Championship, underlining her status as one of Europe's top young talents.
At the club level, she has gained experience across several top European leagues. Most recently, she played for Joventut Badalona in Spain's top division, where she averaged 8.4 points and 3.6 rebounds over 29 games. Before that, she competed in France with Tarbes Gespe Bigorre and in Italy with Beretta Famila Schio, building a diverse and competitive professional background at a young age.
Sivka also earned recognition on the global stage by being selected to the World Select Team at the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit.
Despite being drafted, her WNBA rights remain with the Chicago Sky, who are expected to retain interest in bringing her into the league in the future. For now, her decision to join Kentucky reflects a growing trend of players balancing professional opportunities with development pathways in college basketball.
With Sivka joining the squad, Kentucky continues to strengthen its roster ahead of the upcoming season. The addition positions the Wildcats as a team capable of competing in the NCAA Tournament and potentially making another deep run, building on the program's recent progress.
