Ajša Sivka makes world team of rising basketball stars
Ajša Sivka, a member of the Slovenian women's basketball team. Photo: Slovenian Basketball Federation
Ajša Sivka, a 18-year-old member of the Slovenian national basketball team and of the Italian professional club Famila Schio, has been invited to the women's World Select Team of rising stars as part of the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, US. They will play the US women's Junior Select Team on 13 April.
The 25th Nike Hoop Summit will be the second time that a women's rising stars game will be played, featuring 12 players from the US and 12 players selected from the rest of the world, including Sivka.
The 192cm tall player from Slovenske Konjice earned the invitation for her excellent performances in games and overall progress she has shown in the past year, the Slovenian Basketball Federation (KZS) said in announcing the news on 25 March.
Sivka was selected the most valuable player of the 2023 FIBA U18 Women's European Championship, won by Slovenia. She has also been gaining a prominent role in the senior national team and in Famila Schio, which plays in the women's EuroLeague.
It is thus not surprising that she was also short-listed in the selection for the best young player of the current season of the strongest women's club competition, the KZS said.
Being part of the Nike Hoop Summit means a lot to Sivka. "I'm very happy to be on the list of invited players, especially considering that there are very few girls from Europe on the team," she said.
"You don't get an opportunity like this every day and I'm really looking forward to hanging out, training and playing with the girls. I think that I'm in for an extraordinary experience," she added.
The World Select Team, which will compete with the best high school players in the US, will be coached by Canadian Carley Clark.
