Awa Fam grew up in the coastal town of Santa Pola, Spain, and has felt a connection to the Mediterranean Sea since childhood. It goes back to when she was just 5 years old, creating cherished memories on its sandy beaches alongside her friends and family. 

These days, though, the 19-year-old doesn’t spend too much time on the beach, especially since she moved to Valencia, which she calls her “second home,” to join Valencia Basket in 2019. Like the ocean’s tide, there’s a fluidity to Fam’s game that makes her one of the most pro-ready and exciting players ahead of the 2026 WNBA Draft. 

Technically a pro since she was 15, Fam makes it clear to SLAM that her goal has always been to play in the WNBA. “It was always my dream,” she says. “If I am there, I will keep improving…It’s gonna be nice for me, seeing the best players in the world, seeing what they’re doing each day, how they approach the game, and competing against them.”

The No. 1 pick could easily come down to a matter of experience, and as a young standout on one of Spain’s strongest clubs, Fam’s efficiency is evident. At 6-4, she’s technically listed as a center but her versatility is what makes her dangerous for anyone who has to guard or be guarded by her. On the court, she effortlessly moves in rhythm with the game and has a knack for making all the right reads. Give her an open lane and she’ll power her way to the basket with quickness. Get caught in the pick-and-roll and Fam is leaving everyone else in the dust while simultaneously figuring out her next move of attack. Will she drive to the rim? Or dish it to her teammates? Or will she unleash a combo of ball fakes and spin moves, leaving defenders dizzy? With her 6-8 wingspan and fancy footwork, the options are endless.

As someone who’s always listening to music, especially before games (Fam’s favorite artist is Drake, but she also loves Rihanna, Gunna, Future and Bad Bunny, of course), Fam compares the tempo of her game to dancing. 

It’s a sentiment often expressed by the most creative of players and innovators who view basketball as not just a sport, but a form of expression. While her opponents are trying to keep up with her, Fam is two-stepping her way right past them. “I like to dance on the block, for example, and not only [have] one finish. I like to keep the ball, keep dancing, keeping my moves, but not only [doing] one thing. If I can do two things or three things, or reverse and finish, I like that,” Fam says.

In a highly competitive league, Fam is showcasing to the world just how efficient she is, including last June, when she dropped a historic 21 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks to lead Spain to a nail-biting 65-64 win over France in the 2025 FIBA Women’s EuroBasket Semifinal. Fam became the first player under 20 years old to score 20 or more points in a semifinal since 1989.

The poise she plays with now, as a pro, is the result of the years she’s spent refining her game. And yet, when she first started playing at 8 years old, basketball was just a fun hobby. 

Fam, whose parents are from Senegal and moved to Alicante over 30 years ago, grew up watching her older brothers, Tala and Karim, play basketball. When asked about her brothers, she calls them “the most important people in my life.” On the court, Awa saw how Tala was the more physical one. “He loves to crossover like in the NBA.” And then there was Karim, whom she describes as an intelligent player.

While Fam believes she wasn’t very good at the beginning of her basketball career—chalking up her physicality to her height—she eventually caught the attention of Valencia at just 12 years old. She ultimately decided to continue competing for her country rather than go the college route, a decision that put her in the unique position to learn from the pros around her and see just what it takes to hold her own. “Being on the team with Alba Torrens, it was super, super special,” Fam says. “She’s always on the court, like, two hours before the game, preparing herself.” Given her exposure to professionalism at a young age, Fam has a maturity and poise that separates her from many other players her age.

On December 2, 2021, in a EuroCup game against Durán Maquinaria Ensino in La Fonteta, Fam became the youngest player ever to debut for Valencia Basket at age 15. 

Fam has competed on the largest stages in the world, including just two years into her pro career at the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup. She was only 16 when Spain faced the United States in the Final and found herself going up against future stars like JuJu Watkins, Madison Booker and Hannah Hidalgo. “It was the first moment that I competed against big, big players,” Fam admits. Despite the loss to the US, Fam cherishes the experience. “We lost, but in that moment it was OK, [because] we were in the World Cup and were second and it fueled me to work even harder
on my game.”

As dominant as she is on the court, Fam describes herself as more of the chill, humble type of person. She also prides herself on being a selfless team-player first, which is where her love for dishing dimes stems from.

“For me, it’s super important to be the person that reads the game all the time,” she says. “It’s not only scoring 20 points and [getting] 20 rebounds or something like that. It’s more than that. I want to pass the ball…If I have the ball in the block, for example, I need to be patient, see the defense and if my teammate [is open], I need to pass the ball to my teammate to create the best advantage for us.”

Fam’s intensity on defense is just as impressive. Facing players like Emma Meesseman, who plays for Fenerbahçe in the EuroLeague and represents Belgium in EuroBasket, has given Fam a glimpse at what it would be like in the W, having to guard the same players she’s looked up to. 

“When I was defending Emma Meesseman, it was like, Oh my God. I was only 19 years old and I’m playing in the EuroLeague and defending one of the best players in Europe,” Fam recalls. “It was a special moment. I’m [thinking], OK, I’m doing things well, and I want to keep improving.”

For Fam, elevating her game looks like staying true to herself and staying composed in every matchup and moment. Her parents often remind her to trust herself and the work she’s put into her game over the years. It’s this sentiment that will continue to guide her when—not if—she hears her name called on draft night.

“My father and my mom always talk with me,” Fam says, “and [say], Be brave. Keep calm. All the things are gonna come.”  

Portraits by Alexa Alejandro.