Awa Fam
Senegalese-Spanish basketball player (born 2006)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Awa Fam Thiam (born 17 June 2006) is a Spanish professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She previously played for Valencia Basket of the Liga Femenina de Baloncesto.
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Fam in 2025 | |
| No. 11 – Seattle Storm | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | WNBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 17 June 2006 Santa Pola, Alicante, Spain |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Career information | |
| WNBA draft | 2026: 1st round, 3rd overall pick |
| Drafted by | Seattle Storm |
| Playing career | 2021–present |
| Career history | |
| 2021–present | Valencia Basket |
| 2024–2025 | Gernika KESB |
| 2026–present | Seattle Storm |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Early life
Fam was born in Alicante to Senegalese parents.[1] Her parents, Madoumbe Fam and Arame Thiam, emigrated to Spain from their hometown of Guédiawaye, Senegal.[2]
Playing career
Fam made her debut for Valencia Basket on 2 December 2021. At 15 years, 5 months and 15 days old, she became the youngest player to ever play for Valencia.[3][4] During her third career game she recorded 11 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists for her first career double-double, and finished with a player efficiency rating of 23.[5] She was loaned to Gernika KESB for the 2024–2025 season.[6][7] On 28 May 2025, she signed with Valencia Basket until 2029.[8] During the 2025–26 season, she helped Valencia win their fourth consecutive Liga Femenina de Baloncesto championship.[9]
WNBA
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On 13 April 2026, Fam was drafted third overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2026 WNBA draft.[10] She tied Pau Gasol, who was drafted third overall in the 2001 NBA draft, for the highest draft position ever by a Spanish basketball player.[11] Due to obligations with her Spanish basketball team she missed the Storm's first six games of the season.[12]
She made her WNBA debut on 24 May 2026, against the Washington Mystics. During her debut she recorded ten points and two rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench. At 19 years old, she became the 14th teenager to play a game in WNBA history. She became the second teenager ever to score ten or more points in their WNBA debut.[13] She made her first career start on 3 June 2026, against the Phoenix Mercury, and recorded a game-high 18 points, along with six rebounds, two assists, and two blocks in 33 minutes.[14] On 27 June 2026, she recorded a career-high 21 points against the Atlanta Dream. She finished the game shooting 8-for-9 (88.9%) from the field, including 5-for-6 (83.3%) from three-point range.[15]
National team career
In July 2022, Fam represented Spain at the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup where she averaged 10.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. During the gold medal game against the United States, she scored eight points, a team-high eight rebounds and five assists and won a silver medal.[16] The next month, she then represented Spain at the 2022 FIBA U16 European Championship, where she averaged a double-double of 13.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. During the gold medal game against France, she scored eight points and a game-high 12 rebounds and won a silver medal. She was subsequently named to the all-tournament team.[17]
Fam represented Spain at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup where she averaged 10.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. During the gold medal game against the United States, she scored 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and a game-high three blocks, and won a silver medal. She was subsequently named to the FIBA U19 World Cup All-Second Team.[18]