dholbrook · SB Nation Mon, November 9, 2026 at 2:45 PM UTC · 2 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kentucky women's basketball head coach Kenny Brooks already called Ajsa Sivka his best passer, but after Sunday's shootout against No. 25 NC State, the first-year wing from Slovenia proved she might just be the best overall player on the Kentucky roster.
Sivka completely took over the game against the Wolfpack. She exploded for 32 points and tied a program record with eight 3-pointers.
She got to the rim at will, threaded brilliant passes through the defense, and officially broke onto the national scene, with television announcers comparing her to college basketball legend Elena Delle Donne.
For fans who follow international basketball, this breakout performance was not a surprise.
The 6-foot-4 guard was selected 10th overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2025 WNBA Draft, but she opted to remain in Europe to represent Slovenia in the FIBA Women's European Basketball Championship. During that tournament run, she shot 50 percent from the floor, highlighted by a flawless 4-of-4 performance from deep against Italy. That elite efficiency earned her MVP honors at the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship.
For those unfamiliar with the women's game, Delle Donne is an absolute legend. During her historic career at Delaware, Delle Donne was the ultimate mismatch.
She was a towering perimeter player who could handle the ball, shoot from anywhere, and score at will. She led the entire nation in scoring as a junior with 28.1 points per game and once dropped 54 points in a single contest.
Delle Donne was a dominant force who carried her team deep into the NCAA Tournament, combining elite frontcourt size with traditional guard skills and scoring over half of Delaware's points, finishing with 33 in a loss to No. 2 seed Kentucky, 69-62, in 2013.
Overall, Sivka was 11-for-17 from the floor and 8-for-12 from deep. She also added 5 rebounds and 3 assists, though several of her passes didn't count as assists because of missed shots.
If Sivka can replicate anything close to that Delle Donne impact, Kentucky will be a massive problem for opponents all year long.
Source: Sports
