In a surprising twist that has the basketball world buzzing, a former top-10 WNBA draft pick is trading the pros for the college hardwood. Ajša Sivka, the Slovenian guard selected 10th overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2025 WNBA Draft, has officially signed with the University of Kentucky, the program announced Wednesday.

Sivka, now 20, made the unconventional decision to delay her professional debut after attending the draft in person last year. Instead of joining the Sky, she spent 2025 honing her skills in Spain with Joventut Badalona. But her next chapter will be played in the bluegrass state, as she dons Kentucky blue for the Wildcats.

For Sky fans worried about losing their promising young prospect, there's good news: the WNBA confirmed to Front Office Sports that teams retain the rights to players who opt to play college ball. Chicago Sky GM Jeff Pagliocca reassured the organization still plans to bring Sivka into the fold down the road.

Sivka isn't blazing a completely new trail here—she's part of a growing trend of WNBA draftees choosing college over the pros. France's Adja Kane, drafted by the New York Liberty in the third round of the 2025 draft and later selected by the Toronto Tempo in this year's expansion draft, committed to SMU in April. And Nastja Claessens signed with Kansas State a year after being picked by the Washington Mystics in the 2024 draft.

The men's side has seen similar movement, sparking bigger conversations about NCAA eligibility. Last season, several NBA G League players returned to college, and James Nnaji—a former NBA draft pick—headed back to Baylor two years after being selected. In response, the NCAA Division I cabinet recently approved a rule change requiring prospects to withdraw from drafts that require an opt-in to maintain eligibility. However, that rule doesn't apply to international players who haven't signed pro contracts or declared for the draft.

NCAA president Charlie Baker made it clear in February that the organization "has not and will not" grant eligibility to players who have signed NBA contracts, including two-way deals. Whether that stance extends to the WNBA remains an open question—the NCAA declined to comment when asked.

For now, Sivka's decision adds another layer of intrigue to an already evolving landscape in women's college basketball, proving that the path to the pros isn't always a straight line.