Who is Awa Fam? Meet Spanish basketball star in running to go No. 1 overall in 2026 WNBA Draft

Who is Awa Fam? Meet Spanish basketball star in running to go No. 1 overall in 2026 WNBA Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The WNBA draft is often a time full of familiar faces. Players like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd have become household names well before hearing their names called on draft day.

This year, with draft selections still in limbo, a less recognizable name has emerged to generate excitement as early as the No. 1 pick.

Meet Awa Fam, a Spanish center who plays in Valencia, Spain. After joining a Spanish professional team at just 15 years old, Fam has gradually made a name for herself overseas. Now, at 19, she’s likely to be one of the first names announced on draft day.

What should fans know about Fam as she looks to establish herself as a stateside sensation?

MORE:Live WNBA draft picks tracker

Who is Awa Fam?

Awa Fam is a standout center for the Valencia Basket club in Valencia, Spain. Still just a teenager, she has entered this year's WNBA Draft, and is projected by Sporting News' David Suggs to go No. 4 overall to the Washington Mystics in the draft.

An efficient scorer who is light on her feet, Fam could end up as a franchise cornerstone for many WNBA teams. The concerns lie in how she will adapt to the WNBA, although there is certainly an argument that with her skill set, Fam could go as high as No. 1 overall.

MORE:Two-round WNBA mock draft with landing spots for Fudd, Betts, Miles

How good is Awa Fam?

At first glancem Fam's numbers don't jump off the page. She spends about half of each game on the bench and averages single-digit points.

But then comes the structure of her basketball club. With a roster that saw 13 players play over 10 games each and average at least 10 minutes each, this is a crowded team that emphasizes depth and substitutions.

When 19-year old Awa Fam was on the court, she was second on the team in points and rebounds, and third in blocked shots. This is while playing with others who are far older than her, as well as some WNBA veterans like Nia Coffey, who recently signed a two-year deal with the Minnesota Lynx.

MORE: How Azzi Fudd is different from almost every other WNBA No. 1 pick

Awa Fam stats

Fam played across three different leagues in the 2025-2026 season. To start, she played in LF Endesa, the top domestic league in Spain. She later played for Valencia in the Euroleague. Additionally, in 2026, she represented Spain in the World Cup. Here are her stats across all three leagues

What position does Awa Fam play?

Fam is a 6-foot-6 center. Looking at the teams with the top three picks, Fam is taller than anyone on the Minnesota Lynx roster. They have the No. 2 pick and are a popular landing spot for the Spanish center.

The Dallas Wings have the No. 1 overall pick and have one player taller than Fam, Li Yueru, who is 6-foot-7 and averaged 6.0 PPG in 2025.

Finally, the Seattle Storm have the No. 3 pick, with just one player, Dominique Malonga, who is also 6-foot-6 on their roster.

Where is Awa Fam from?

Fam is from Santa Pola, Spain, a small town on the southern coast. The nearest major city is Valencia, where Fam plays for the Valencia Basket club.

Fam has played for Valencia since she was 15 years old, setting the franchise record for youngest player.