Plot twist: Ajša Sivka is headed to the University of Kentucky.
After playing internationally last season, the Sky’s No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft was expected to join the team in 2026. When training camp started without her, the front office kept the door open. Sivka ultimately chose to play at Kentucky instead.
Coach Tyler Marsh described it as a mutual decision.
“We were in regular communication with her and her family and her representatives [about] what she wanted this year to look like,” Marsh said. “It was mutual that she wanted the college experience, from a basketball standpoint and from a lifestyle standpoint. We all felt like this was the best decision.”
Sivka’s strengths are her size (6-foot-4) and shooting, but her season with Spanish club showed she still has work to do. She averaged only 8.4 points per game on 33% shooting from 3-point range. She struggled from deep with her Slovenian national team, shooting 15% from 3 in the most recent EuroBasket Qualifiers. The Sky want her to keep expanding her game too — her ability to create off the dribble and get to the paint remains underdeveloped.
At Kentucky she’ll play for accomplished coach Kenny Brooks, who led the Wildcats to 22 wins in his first season with the program. Kentucky sent four players to the 2026 draft: Tonie Morgan, Teonni Key, Amelia Hassett and Jordan Obi. Morgan was drafted in the third round by the Sky and later waived.
“Part of the communication with [Sivka] was making sure that she went to a system that was conducive for translating into the W,” Marsh said. “We weren’t totally involved [with] what that school was, but we wanted ... to make sure she picked the one where she feels like she can be the best version of herself.”
Another perk of delaying Sivka’s professional debut: there’s no guarantee she would have cracked this roster. The Sky cut every one of their 2025 and 2026 draft picks except Gabriela Jaquez, a lottery pick. Clearly they’re prioritizing making the playoffs over developing young players.
After being drafted in 2025, Sivka stayed overseas to finish high school and play for her Slovenian national team. She averaged 7.7 points per game on 50% shooting from three in the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket tournament.
Sivka is part of an emerging trend of players committing to college after already being drafted in the WNBA. Nastja Claessens, drafted by the Mystics in the third round in 2024, later signed with Kansas State. Adja Kane, a French prospect selected by the Liberty in the third round in 2025 and then scooped by the Tempo in the expansion draft, committed to SMU in April. Sivka, though, is the first first-round pick to make the move.
It’s not clear whether she plans to play a full four years at Kentucky, but the Sky will retain her rights and continue to view her as part of their long-term plan.
On her way
Point guard Natasha Cloud had not yet arrived in Chicago as of Wednesday but will be “en route shortly,” according to Marsh. Marsh hopes she will be available for Saturday’s regular season opener against the Fire.
An undrafted guard from a mid-major program is now one of the Sky’s final 12.
Charles, who had 4,262 rebounds in her career, also finished as the league’s No. 2 all-time scorer behind Diana Taurasi. The 15-year veteran scored 8,396 points in the regular season.
The Sky roster now stands at 12 players.
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