Awa Fam Joins Seattle Storm After Winning Spanish League Title

Spain’s 19-year-old center Awa Fam, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, arrived in Seattle after helping Valencia Basket capture the Liga Femenina Endesa championship. Fam announced she feels “ready to play right now” and expressed excitement about the new challenge despite a demanding season in Spain. The Storm, 1-4 in their opening stretch, have not set a specific debut date for the rookie.

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Fam left her hometown of Alicante at age 12 to join Valencia’s youth program, living with a teammate and receiving tutoring as part of the club’s development plan. She later described the move as “not a difficult challenge,” noting that previous relocations prepared her for the transition from Spain to the United States.

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Standing 6-foot-4, Fam plays center and cites Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson as her idol and model. She signed a four-year rookie contract guaranteeing $436,016 for the 2024 season. Fam’s stated goals include improving her game, learning the league’s nuances, and contributing to the Storm’s front-court depth alongside second-year center Dominique Malonga and rookie guard Flau’jae Johnson.

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• Draft position: No. 3 overall, 2024 WNBA draft.

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• Contract: $436,016 guaranteed for the first year.

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• Valencia performance: 9.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, key factor in the championship run.

Seattle Times

• Seattle Storm record entering Fam’s arrival: 1-4.

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Head coach Sonia Raman highlighted Fam’s physical attributes and skill set, emphasizing her size, shooting, playmaking, and rim-protecting abilities. Raman noted the priority is “getting her acclimated” and integrating her “superpowers” into the team’s system. The Storm’s short-handed roster, with post players Ezi Magbegor and Dominique Malonga sidelined, positions Fam as a potential immediate contributor once she completes the acclimation process.

Seattle Times

The source material did not present any dissenting opinions or criticism regarding Fam’s transition or the Storm’s plans.

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• “I feel good. For me, it's OK, I'm 19 years old. I'm ready to play right now in the W.” — Awa Fam, rookie center

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• “When I was 15 years old, I never imagined that I was going to be here. Now I'm excited because my dream has come true.” — Awa Fam

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• “She brings size. She brings shooting, playmaking, an ability to defend and protect the rim.” — Sonia Raman, Seattle Storm head coach

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• “I need to be focused on what my team needs and what Sonia needs from me.” — Awa Fam

Seattle Times

Fam attended her first practice session on Friday, observed the team’s shoot-around, and began familiarizing herself with the Storm’s playbook. While no exact debut date was announced, the coaching staff indicated that her integration will be accelerated if roster injuries persist. The Storm’s next scheduled game is against the Connecticut Sun, offering a potential window for Fam’s first WNBA appearance.

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