‘A natural basketball talent.’ How Ajša Sivka’s Slovenia connections see UK signee
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sivka opted to play the 2025–26 season with Joventut Badalona after the draft.
- Sivka has played professionally in Slovenia, Italy, France and Spain since 2020–21.
- Coaches and teammates praise Sivka for natural talent, strong work ethic and leadership.
When Zala Friškovec first met Ajša Sivka, she didn’t just find a new teammate — she found a friend so cherished she considers her “like a sister.”
The two were paired as roommates during Sivka’s first call-up to the Slovenian women’s national team, and Friškovec, already on the roster, immediately felt a sense of responsibility.
“I had this feeling that somehow I needed to help her,” Friškovec said. “And I’m glad I did, because we clicked as friends so fast, even though she’s six years younger than me. She copied me with everything... because she really was like, ‘OK, I’m gonna do everything that she’s doing because she’s gonna guide me in a good way.’”
That friendship, forged among Slovenian’s best and most experienced basketball talent, offers a window into the personality and quiet leadership that have remained consistent throughout Sivka’s rise from prodigy to pro — and now, to Kentucky, where she’ll join Kenny Brooks’ program despite already having been selected No. 10 overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2025 WNBA draft.
“That’s a very mature way of thinking because if you feel that you are not 100% ready, why would you go and you cannot show all these skills that you could do a little bit later?” Friškovec said of Sivka’s decision to play at UK. “She’s aware of this, she knows where she’s bad, where she’s good, what she needs to work on, and I think that’s a really smart decision from her.”
Sivka’s basketball journey began at an early age; Robert Matevžič, who coached the now-20-year-old Sivka for approximately six years across her childhood and adolescence in Slovenia, said he remembers seeing something special in her from the start.
“I first saw Ajša play at a basketball school practice when she was in first grade, at just 6 years old,” Matevžič said. “And even then it was obvious that she had a special feeling for the ball and basketball. She was a natural basketball talent.”
Sivka earned her first invitation to the senior national team at age 15, having already become one of Slovenia’s top players; she earned MVP recognition at the 2023 FIBA U18 Women’s EuroBasket, and, per a FIBA story published in Nov. 2024, “was fast-tracked to senior national team action and played a big role for Slovenia” in the FIBA Women’s European Basketball Championship.
The 6-foot-4 Sivka played professionally across Europe since the 2020-21 campaign with Konjice in the lower division of Slovenian club basketball and has since spent seasons with Beretta Famila Schio of Italy’s Lega Basket Femminile, Tarbes Gespe Bigorre of France’s Ligue Féminine de Basketball and, most recently, Joventut Badalona of Spain’s Liga Femenina de Baloncesto.
With Joventut Badalona — for which Sivka opted to play the 2025-26 season in lieu of signing with the Sky — she averaged 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 0.7 steals in 25.7 minutes across 29 games. However, those who have watched her grow say that Sivka’s best qualities can’t be measured by stats or honors.
Setting the tone
Despite her “fast-tracked” journey to success, Sivka did not arrive at national team camp overflowing with confidence. Friškovec said she recalls meeting a shy teenager unsure of herself among the returning players.
“To be honest, she wasn’t that confident at first,” Friškovec said. “She was so scared to come, to play, to practice with these older, experienced players. She already carried this pressure with her, I think, so that’s why I also maybe felt, ‘OK, I will need to try to help her to make it easier for her,’ because you should not feel pressure at 16 years old.”
But each training camp, each opportunity with the senior national team, allowed Sivka to settle in.
“She needed time, I think,” Friškovec said. “And next season, she was invited. Next summer, it was easier for her, and (the) next summer, easier, easier. But, yes, it wasn’t easy at the beginning, but now she’s pretty good. She’s really confident.”
Sivka has always been “very well-liked” by teammates throughout her career, Matevžič said. Though Sivka’s leadership style is subtle, her presence sets a tone regardless of who she plays alongside.
“Even though she was more quiet on the court, her work ethic had a positive impact on the rest of the team as well,” Matevžič said. “She always knew how to motivate her teammates and give them good advice when needed. Off the court she is mostly smiling, relaxed and very nice. So I believe Ajša has the ability to be a strong leader in any team she is a part of.”
Friškovec agreed, and said that Sivka’s nature is welcomed by the senior national team.
“She’s bringing this good energy, good vibe,” Friškovec said. “But also she’s working when she knows when to be serious. When we are working, we are working. When we are having fun, we are having fun.”
Balancing between focus and fun has endeared Sivka to teammates and coaches alike; Friškovec describes the younger athlete as one of her favorite teammates, someone who always stays after practice to put in extra work and who brings out the best in those around her.
Heralded for her versatility, Sivka’s ability to play a hybrid guard/forward role allows her to find success all over the floor, armed with a skill set that includes an effective shot and a high basketball IQ.
“Ajša, for her size, is extremely skilled and fundamentally sound, and she can pretty much play any position on the court, on both ends,” Matevžič said. “She’s also a very good shooter with a quick release and good accuracy. She brings really good athleticism and physical tools. One of her biggest strengths is her work ethic — she can easily spend a full day in the gym working on her game.”
Matevžič said that work ethic, combined with a relentless competitiveness, has been a constant since Sivka’s childhood.
“She wanted to win everything she did,” Matevžič said. “Every drill, every game, and I think that is a big part of what makes her special.”
