Ajša

Sivka

Selected by the Sky with the tenth overall pick in Monday’s WNBA Draft, Sivka attended the event and expressed enthusiasm about joining the team. However, a commitment to play for Slovenia in FIBA Women’s Eurobasket could delay the rookie’s WNBA debut until July. Slovenia’s first group play game is scheduled for June 18, and the final will be played on June 29. With there also being a camp to prepare for the event, Sivka may not be available to the Sky until after the tournament concludes. Poe reports the Sky are working through various options, including allowing Sivka to delay her WNBA debut until 2026. The prioritization rule the WNBA put in place in 2020, which requires players to join their teams by May 1, does not apply to Sivka since she has not played at least two seasons in the league.

A native of Slovenia, the 6-foot-3 Sivka spent this past season with Tarbes Gespe Bigorre in France’s top professional league. Having only turned 19 in November, Sivka shined internationally in the 2022 Under-17 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup and the 2023 FIBA U18 Women’s European Championships, leading Slovenia to the gold medal in the latter. Sivka also earned her first senior call-up in the summer of 2023, appearing in EuroBasket Women 2023. Still having room to grow as a wing playmaker, Sivka is a solid perimeter shooter with plenty of upside. Sivka joins a franchise now led by former Aces assistant Tyler Marsh, renowned for his player development abilities. Compared by some to Liberty forward Leonie Fiebich, Sivka’s ability to step out on the perimeter as a face-up four could supplement young Sky posts Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.