WNBA DRAFT

April 14, 2025

Ajsa Sivka

Chicago Sky

Q. What is something that you're going to take with you from tonight to the W?

AJSA SIVKA: For sure like the experience that I got to experience here was great. Being surrounded by all these players, like just being here, get to know the league, get to know more the rules, everything. So yeah, I think that's it.

Q. You've competed against elite international talent. Who's your biggest inspiration from the European game and why?

AJSA SIVKA: For sure my captain of the National Team, Teja Oblak. I think she's really an idol for me since I was little. I was watching her going to go watch the National Team play. I just really love her, like vision, her passion in the game, and I really hope to become someone like her one day.

Q. What do you know about the Sky and the roster playing with Angel Reese and the rest of their team?

AJSA SIVKA: So, I played with Marina [Mabrey] in Schio, and I know she was going to Sky that year. So, she also gave me a shirt. I have one already.

But yeah, I'm just really excited to play with all these great players like Angel Reese, of course. Yeah, I can't wait to start.

Q. What can WNBA fans know about you that doesn't show up on your stat sheet? And second question is what do you think will translate mostly -- what part of your game will translate the most in the W?

AJSA SIVKA: For sure the experience that I have playing in Europe. In college you really play against people your age or maybe with two, three years of difference, but there I have so many players that are maybe 16 years older than me. So, I think these experiences can really make the transition easier for me.

Q. You talk about the advantage of playing internationally before coming over to the United States. There's been this whole wave of international players now coming to the United States and being part of this amazing league. What does that mean, that more teams are looking more towards international players to really be a part of this great league?

AJSA SIVKA: I'm so glad it's like this because it shows that we really work well in Europe, especially I think in the Balkan countries like Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia. We really have the talent and it's old school, like the tough basketball that we play. I'm really glad people also in America get to see that now.

Q. Slovenia is a small country with lots of talented athletes in basketball, of course, with Luka Doncic or cycling with [Tadej] Pogacar. Why do you think there's such a density of talented athletes in your country?

AJSA SIVKA: Honestly, I don't know. We're so small, we have two million people. But really our sport is amazing. No matter what sport, we have at least someone that's great in it. I'm just really proud to be Slovenian.

Q. As you were experiencing all the draft activities this weekend, how did you feel being in New York and just being with all your other draftees?

AJSA SIVKA: It's my first time in New York, so for sure it's a big thing for me. But just to be with all these players, it's great. They're like stars here already. We talked so much. We talked to people, like the media that we had. I really got to see how they look at some things, their perspectives. I think it just gave me experience.