Slovenian basketball star makes WNBA history
Ajša Sivka, a 19-year-old Slovenian basketball talent, has been selected by the Chicago Sky as the 10th overall pick of the first round of the 2025 draft of the WNBA, the world's strongest basketball league. She is the second Slovenian ever to be picked by a WNBA team.
Sivka, a forward, most recently played in the French league for Tabes, where she averaged 8.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.9 steals while shooting 35.6% from three on 5.5 attempts per game across 29 total appearances in the tier-one French league and Eurocup, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.
The 192 cm player has represented Slovenia at several international events. In the 2023 FIBA U18 Women's European Championship, she helped Slovenia to a surprising gold medal, averaging 15.9 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 steals to be named the tournament's most valuable player. She has also played for the proper national team, being the youngest participant of the 2023 EuroBasket.
"Forwards who can stretch the floor will always hold high value in this game, and that's exactly what Ajša Sivka provides," Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said. "We're excited to land someone who is not only skilled, but has been playing at a high level professionally for years," he added.
Upon being drafted on 14 April, Sivka thanked her father, saying "it was because of him that I started playing".
"He has always been my idol," she told the crowd, which included her teary-eyed father.
Sivka is the second Slovenian to be drafted into the WNBA. Nika Barič was picked in 2012 in the second round by Minnesota Lynx, but she never played for the team.
The Chicago Sky are entering their 20th season in the WNBA under new head coach Tyler Marsh. They missed the WNBA playoffs in the 2024 season, finishing 10th in the 13-team competition with a 13-27 record.
