Chicago Sky fills needs in WNBA draft with Sivka, Van Lith, Westbeld

With a solid frontcourt already in place, the Chicago Sky on Monday night went for shooting and guard help in the WNBA draft.

Picking at No. 10, the Sky drafted Ajsa Sivka, a 6-foot-3 Slovenian power forward who is proficient from the 3-point line. At No. 11 the Sky added 5-9 point guard Hailey Van Lith, who will apprentice under reacquired guard Courtney Vandersloot.

“Forwards who can stretch the floor will always hold high value in this game, and that’s exactly what Ajša Sivka provides,” Sky General Manager Jeff Pagliocca said in a mid-draft statement. “We’re excited to land someone who is not only skilled, but has been playing at a high level professionally for years.”

Whereas the 19-year-old Sivka is fairly unknown, Van Lith, 23, is very well known from playing in the NCAA Tournament the past few seasons. Van Lith has been a winner wherever she played, starting at Louisville, then LSU and finally TCU. She played with Sky forward Angel Reese at LSU.

Van Lith took the first chance she got to thank the Sky for drafting her.

“All I have asked for is an opportunity my whole career, and I couldn’t be more honored and blessed that they were the team that gave me the opportunity, so first and foremost I would just like to take the chance to thank that organization for taking a chance on me.”

In the second round the Sky selected Notre Dame forward Maddy Westbeld at No. 16 and Aicha Coulibaly, a guard from Texas A&M, at No. 22.

“Getting the chance to land a player as skilled as Maddy Westbeld in the second round is truly exciting,” Pagliocca said. “She can stretch the floor, put pressure on opponents defensively and made an impact on a great Notre Dame team with many talented players.”

UConn guard Paige Bueckers went No. 1 overall to Dallas. Dominique Malonga, a 6-6 center from France, went next to Seattle, and Notre Dame guard Sonia Citron went third to Washington.