Angel Reese had one wish heading into the 2025 WNBA Draft: “We’re trying to get her.” That’s what she said in February on her podcast Unapologetically Angel, about Notre Dame’s star guard Olivia Miles, while chatting with Lisa Leslie. Fast forward to April, and the draft is in the books—Miles is staying in college. But Reese’s hopes didn’t collapse. Instead, Chicago found its surprise gem—and while she’s no Luka Dončić, she is Slovenian.

Ajša Sivka, the 19-year-old power forward from Slovenia, was drafted tenth overall by the Sky — a strategic move shaped by both talent and timing. Sivka has played against professionals in Europe for years, starting with Beretta Famila Schio and more recently Tarbes Gespe Bigorre. She’s not a household name in the U.S. yet, but Chicago’s front office believes that’s about to change.

“Imagine that girl two, three, four years from now — how special she might be,” said GM Jeff Pagliocca to the Chicago Tribune. “We think she’s great. We think there’s not a lot of her. Players at that size that can shoot the ball, you always want them around. In our league, shooting defines a lot of success. So yeah, that’s a player we want to keep here forever.”

Well, GM Pagliocca sure knows what it’s like to miss — especially when it comes to European talent. Just ask Leonie Fiebich. Drafted by the Sparks in 2020, her rights were quietly traded to the Sky in 2021… yet neither franchise bothered to even contact her. Fast forward to 2024 — Fiebich finally signs with a WNBA team, but it’s not LA or Chicago. It’s the New York Liberty, where she promptly lands on the 2024 WNBA All-Rookie Team.

The two-time reigning LF Endesa MVP from Germany didn’t just show up — she made history. Fiebich posted the second-highest plus-minus ever recorded by a rookie at +279 and knocked down threes at a blistering 43.3% clip (minimum 125 attempts), the second-best mark for any rookie in league history.

In her debut season, she helped power the Liberty to their second consecutive 30+ win campaign (32-8), securing the No. 1 seed and homecourt advantage for the 2024 WNBA Playoffs, a league first. And in October of last year, she became the eighth player in the Liberty’s franchise history to be a part of the All-Rookie Team. As for LA and Chicago? They forgot to pick up the phone.

That kind of draft disaster wasn’t going to repeat. Not this time. This time, the Sky front office made sure. “This situation is different,” Pagliocca emphasized. “We had a lot of really good conversations with Sivka leading up to the draft.” And the interest was mutual. Sivka was at the draft in New York, beaming with excitement and ready to step into a new chapter. “I’m just really excited to play with all these great players like Angel Reese,” Sivka said. “I can’t wait to start.”

Pagliocca’s promise isn’t just for 2025. It’s for the years ahead. And this time, the Sky made sure their message was heard — loud and clear.

Reese in the Paint, Sivka on the Horizon

Whether she starts now or next year, though, is still uncertain. Sivka is committed to representing Slovenia at the 2025 FIBA Women’s EuroBasket — a top priority for many European stars. Her national team begins group play June 18 in Bologna, and if Slovenia goes the distance, the tournament could run through June 29 in Greece.

That’s a big ask for a 19-year-old rookie, but Sivka’s already proven she can handle the pressure. At just 17, she was the youngest player at EuroBasket 2023, starting for Slovenia against seasoned vets. Now, she’ll balance tune-up camps, qualifiers, and international play before she ever sets foot in a WNBA jersey.

Still, the Sky can afford patience. Thanks to the league’s prioritization rule, Sivka doesn’t have to report until after her second season — meaning no penalties if she defers until 2026. The Sky are open to that option if it means getting her fully committed. “We drafted her because we want her to play here,” said Pagliocca. “So hopefully sooner rather than later, because she’s got a chance to be special.”

Sivka brings something rare — floor spacing at 6-foot-4, with the kind of shooting stroke that can stretch a defense and complement interior threats like Reese and Cardoso. Chicago’s 2025 draft haul also included Hailey Van Lith, Maddy Westbeld, and Aicha Coulibaly, while trade acquisitions Ariel Atkins and Rebecca Allen added veteran firepower.

But Sivka is the long-term bet — the kind you stash like gold, knowing the payoff could change everything. While she sharpens her game in Europe, the Sky aren’t just waiting around. They’ve been busy building the blueprint for the future — and it’s bold.

They traded their 2026 first-round pick to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for the 11th overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, allowing them to select Hailey Van Lith. Earlier, they had traded the No. 3 overall pick to the Washington Mystics for 2X All-Star guard Ariel Atkins.​

Additionally, the Sky acquired 2 second-round picks from the Las Vegas Aces in exchange for Dana Evans, one of which they used to draft Aicha Coulibaly, and the other they sent to the Lynx. They also traded Rebekah Gardner to the New York Liberty for 2025 and 2026 second-round picks. In a separate deal, they obtained the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 draft from the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for Julie Allemand, Li Yueru, and a 2025 third-round pick. 

It’s a masterclass in value stacking — a delicate mix of win-now moves and future investments. With a young core led by Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, plus a deep draft haul and seasoned vets like Atkins and Rebecca Allen, Chicago isn’t just hoping to compete — they’re calculating how.

And when Sivka finally lands in the Windy City? She might just be the final piece of a plan that’s already in motion.