Kentucky women’s basketball guard Ajša Sivka was named a U.S. Basketball Writers Association National Player of the Week and a Southeastern Conference Player of the Week on Tuesday.
Sivka exploded for 32 points and eight made three-pointers in Kentucky’s win over North Carolina State on Sunday.
Here are more details from UK Athletics:
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky women’s basketball star guard Ajša Sivka was named a U.S. Basketball Writers Association National Player of the Week and a Southeastern Conference Player of the Week, it was announced by each organization Tuesday.
They are the first honors awarded by either organization this season.
The first-year, 20-year-old put together impressive scoring and passing performances in all three of Kentucky’s wins to begin 2026-27.
While her most outstanding performance came just two days ago with 32 points on a school-record-tying eight 3s to lead No. 14/14 Kentucky past No. 25/25 NC State on Sunday, she also stuffed the stats in her first two games as well.
Sivka put up 12 points, a team-high eight assists, three rebounds, one block and one steal in her first game against Morehead State last Monday. Her 3-point prowess was first displayed in that game, going a perfect 2-of-2 from behind the arc. She added 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists in her second game against Northern Kentucky last Thursday.
But it was against the ranked Wolfpack on Sunday that the nation took notice when she racked up a team-high 32 points, in part thanks to her eight 3s, which tied Rhyne Howard for a single-game school record set in 2022. In fact, she began the game on 5-of-5 from the arc.
Sivka became the second SEC player to have at least eight made 3s against an Associated Press ranked team since 2002-03 (also Merideth Marsh of Vanderbilt vs. No. 9 Florida on Feb. 12, 2009).
She also contributed to a school-record 13 team 3s in the first half and a school-record-tying 18 team 3s for the game.
The Wildcat added five rebounds and three assists against the Wolfpack.
Through three games this season, she is leading the team in numerous categories, including 18.3 points per game, a 59.4 percent shooting from the field, 11 3s and 14 assists. Her 11 3s also lead the SEC and are ranked seventh in the nation.
Sivka, a 6-foot-5 guard from Slovenske Konjice, Slovenia, is a name well known for being selected 10th overall to the Chicago Sky in the 2025 WNBA Draft despite not officially declaring for the draft. As an international prospect, she was automatically ruled eligible for the 2025 WNBA Draft since she was turning 20 years old during the same year of the draft. Sivka, who was just 19 years old at the time she was selected, did not end up signing with the Chicago Sky.
“I just wanted to be ready and to feel confident once I go there (Chicago),” Sivka said. “I saw the (Kentucky) program, how they work here and obviously Coach (Kenny) Brooks. The individual practices that I have, a lot of stuff that I wasn’t doing before, he really helped me a lot the whole summer. I think I improved a lot. Like I said, just feeling confident once I go there (Chicago) and be ready.”
Sivka and the No. 12/10 Kentucky women’s basketball team are back in action tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 11, playing host to Evansville at 6:30 p.m. ET inside Historic Memorial Coliseum. For more on the game promotion and theme, ticket links and parking and shuttle information, click here.
For more information on the Kentucky women’s basketball team, visit UKathletics.com or follow @KentuckyWBB on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
