Another day, another "boom" for Kenny Brooks. Heading into his third season at Historic Memorial Coliseum, the Wildcats' head coach has put together arguably his most impressive offseason yet after dodging a job offer from Virginia at the start of the process.
His latest win comes in the form of an international commitment that seemingly nobody saw coming. Announced on the Kentucky Women's Basketball X account, guard Ajša Sivka is officially a Wildcat.
Kentucky was already going to be good prior to this surprise snag. Now, though? Sivka brings professional experience and a refined ability to score the basketball, and could be the piece that elevates this blue and white squad from good to "how do we beat them?"
Ajša Sivka Will Elevate Kentucky
In her 2025-26 campaign with Joventut (Spain-LF Endesa), the 20-year old guard averaged 8.4 points and three boards. That's solid enough in a professional league overseas, but even better, Sivka's numbers doubled in her seven games the 2025 U20 Women's Eurobasket tournament.
Therein, she put up 15.3 points per contest, alongside seven rebounds, three assists, and two blocks and steals respectively. Her three point clip came in just under 40%, too, proving the guard's ability to stretch her game out to the arc.
Welcome to Lexington, @AjsaSivka7!! 💙✍️ pic.twitter.com/om3FNV4jSc
— Kentucky Women’s Basketball (@KentuckyWBB) May 6, 2026
What's more, Sivka had initially been selected 10th overall to the Chicago Sky in the 2025 WNBA Draft, before not signing and returning to the international (and now collegiate) well to refine her game.
In Brooks' system, Sivka joins a legion of backcourt talent - both freshman and from the portal - that should produce a "knives sharpen knives" effect as the season goes on. Maddyn Greenway and Diana Collins are chief among them.
Not everyone can keep up with recruiting and team-building in the NIL era, but in Coach Brooks, Kentucky got a good one.
Brooks Can Evolve
More than anything else, Brooks has exhibited the ability to evolve alongside college basketball. As contracts and commercialization throw wrenches into every program's machine, Kentucky's head coach is actively battling back.
Of course, his third season can't be entirely judged until the group actually takes the floor. But, with a still-incomplete roster in May, excitement is about as high as anyone could've imagined it to be.
BBN, welcome your newest Cat on a growing list of strong additions, Ajša Sivka!
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