Sivka Scores 32 as Kentucky Beats NC State

Ajša Sivka tied a program record for made threes in Kentucky's 93-78 win over NC State in Charlotte.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Basketball

Sivka Scores 32 as Kentucky Beats NC State

Ajša Sivka scored 32 points and made eight three-pointers as Kentucky defeated NC State 93-78. Her eight made threes tied Rhyne Howard's program record for a single game.

Why it matters

Sivka's performance highlights Kentucky's offensive strength early in the season, with the Wildcats leaning on a scoring wing who was not named to any preseason watch lists or All-SEC teams. The result adds to Kentucky's momentum as the program builds around its guards and wings.

Sivka went 11-17 from the field and 8-12 from three in 37 minutes, scoring 32 points with five rebounds and three assists. That line sits above her 11.5-point, 5.5-assist average through Kentucky's first two games.

The players

Ajša Sivka

Sivka is a 6-foot-5 scoring wing who was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft and chose to play college basketball at Kentucky instead of turning pro.

Kenny Brooks

Brooks is Kentucky's women's basketball head coach who found a legal loophole that allowed Sivka to enroll at Kentucky rather than enter the professional ranks.

The details

Sivka made her first six shots before missing in the middle of the second quarter. Clara Strack added 24 points and eight rebounds, and Savvy Swords scored 14 points with five rebounds.

2025: Sivka was drafted No. 10 overall by the Chicago Sky in the WNBA Draft.
Summer 2026: Sivka trained individually under coach Kenny Brooks before the season.
November 8, 2026: Kentucky beat NC State 93-78 in Charlotte.

Season Trajectory

Sivka's eight made threes tie Rhyne Howard's Kentucky record for a single game, placing her alongside one of the program's most prolific recent shooters. The performance comes as Kentucky opens its season with a player who entered college after being drafted into the WNBA.

Sivka's 32-point effort gives Kentucky a scoring threat from beyond the arc that opponents will need to account for. Fantasy and bracket watchers tracking college scoring leaders should note her early-season production.

The takeaway

Sivka's shooting through two games suggests her role as a scoring wing is established rather than a one-game surge. Following her minutes and three-point attempts will show whether that production holds against stronger conference opponents.