Former Top-10 Pick Turns Down WNBA for College in Stunning Move
After years of stagnant pay, the WNBA's new collective bargaining agreement has shifted the entire financial landscape of women’s basketball.
The new deal introduces revenue sharing (roughly 20% of league revenue), raises the salary cap to about $7 million per team, and dramatically increases player compensation across the board.
Average salaries will start at around $583,000 in 2026 and increase to over $1 million by 2032, a massive jump from roughly $75,000–$120,000 under the old system, while minimum salaries have surged to around $270,000+.
Rookies are among the biggest winners. The No. 1 overall pick now earns about $500,000 in Year 1, with top-five picks landing in the mid-to-high six figures and late lottery (top-10) selections still approaching $289,000+ annually.
In short, the new CBA transforms the WNBA from a modest-paying league into one where even first-year players can command salaries that rival or exceed many overseas opportunities.
And that's what makes the next move so surprising.
On Wednesday, Kentucky announced that Ajša Sivka, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, will join the Wildcats for the 2026–27 season instead of immediately joining the Chicago Sky, who still hold her rights.
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The 6-foot-4 Slovenian guard began her career with Italy's Beretta Famila Schio before moving to France's Tarbes Gespe Bigorre, where she helped lead the club to a league final and cup semifinal run.
In the 2024–25 season, she averaged 6.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in domestic play, while flashing far more upside in EuroCup competition with 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.0 steals per game.
On the international stage, Sivka averaged 15.9 points and 9.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.4 steals per game en route to MVP honors at the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship, delivering a 20-point, 12-rebound performance in the gold medal game.
She also contributed at the senior level for Slovenia at EuroBasket, holding her own as one of the youngest players in the field.
Simply put, Sivka has already she’s proven she can play at the pro level.
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Kentucky finished 25–11 overall in 2025-26, including 8–8 in SEC play, and reached the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament under second-year head coach Kenny Brooks.
They weren't dominant night-to-night, but they were sturdy, top-15 caliber by season's end, with a balanced roster that now just added an established European pro.
That's what makes her decision so surprising. Sivka already had a clear path to the WNBA and likely a bigger immediate payday. Instead, she's opting for another developmental year, even after proving herself against seasoned pros overseas.
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This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 9:21 AM.