Kenny Brooks has pieced together arguably his most compelling roster yet in the three offseasons he's had to cook in Lexington. Hauling in major pieces from both the transfer portal and high school recruiting scene, such as Maddyn Greenway and Me'arah O'Neal, as well as returning Clara Strack has positioned the Wildcats as a dark horse to make a legitimate national run.
But perhaps his sneakiest pickup came in the form of a player we already know is worthy of the WNBA. Ajša Sivka, who was drafted tenth overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2025 WNBA Draft, was eligible to play college hoops due to never actually having signed with the Sky.
As a result, the international prospect bought into Coach Brooks' recruiting pitch, making her a one-of-one Wildcat. And now, per Kentucky Women's Basketball on X, she's officially home:
Ajša is home!!! 😻🏡💙 pic.twitter.com/t5fe9jEYtO
— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) July 1, 2026
Sivka joins that aforementioned batch of players as a Cat that brings her own specific flavor to Brooks' third Kentucky team. Having played professionally overseas and with a taste of the WNBA process, few athletes at the NCAA level are on Sivka's level of experience.
To a varied Wildcats team full of personalities from just about every possible camp, the 6-foot-3, multi-faceted forward that is Ajša Sivka has the opportunity to serve as both a leader and a veteran presence.
Few 20-year old students can say the same thing.
Ajša Sivka Can Be Kentucky's Heart
She's simply got a foot in every camp and, as a result, should plug in as the heart of this Kentucky team. Whether or not she'll start or where exactly she'll play will have to wait until Brooks moves things around and, inevitably, tries different lineups.
But averaging eight points and three boards overseas (in a season for Joventut that just ended in April) is no small feat. Plus, her recent play should prime Sivka for the transition to college basketball; she basically took a month off from consistent competition before touching down in the Bluegrass.
Now, joining together with Brooks and the rest of his 2026-27 Cats as summer practice season kicks into gear, Cats fans have their first look at our head coach's ace in the hole. Obvious weapons aside, Sivka's professional palette and physical intangibles put her ahead of the general pack.
She's a certified breakout candidate this coming season at Memorial Coliseum. Especially alongside Clara Strack in the frontcourt, Kentucky will be able to score and rebound with the best of the best, in the SEC and beyond.
If there was ever a perfect time for Kenny Brooks to make a re-run at the Final Four following his appearance at Virginia Tech, it's right now.
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