𝐀𝐰𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐦: ESPN projects her as the future No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft

Awa Fam is taking the basketball world by storm as women’s basketball enters one of the most transformative eras in its history. According to ESPN’s latest 2026 WNBA Mock Draft, Fam has emerged as the projected No. 1 overall pick, capturing the attention of scouts, analysts, and executives on both sides of the Atlantic. The 19-year-old Spanish center combines size, skill, and court vision in a way that few players her age can, making her not only a top prospect but a symbol of the rising global power in the sport.

Just hours before the 2026 WNBA Draft Lottery sets the official order for next year’s selections, the global basketball community finds itself focused on a player who, until recently, existed largely outside the American collegiate spotlight. But Fam’s ascent is not an accident — it is the culmination of a European developmental system reaching full maturity, WNBA franchises expanding their talent pipelines, and a player whose on-court intelligence and physical profile are years ahead of her age.

A Rise That Rewrites Expectations

In its most recent projections, ESPN places Awa Fam above established NCAA figures such as Lauren Betts, Olivia Miles, and Azzi Fudd. For a teenager who has grown up within the structure of elite Spanish basketball, this ranking signals a broader truth: the WNBA is no longer evaluating international players as rare exceptions, but as essential pieces of the league’s future.

Fam, who plays for Valencia Basket, meets the WNBA’s automatic eligibility rules for international prospects at 19. And crucially, her agent has confirmed to ESPN that she intends to declare for the draft immediately — a decision that has fueled even more interest among league decision-makers.

Five Teams, One Destiny: Who Could Draft Awa Fam at No. 1?

The 2026 Draft Lottery will determine which franchise acquires the first pick — a selection that, according to most analysts, could transform the trajectory of whichever roster secures it. The probabilities reflect a league where parity and rebuilding cycles intersect:

• Dallas Wings – 42%
• Minnesota Lynx – 26.1%
• Seattle Storm – 16.7%
• Washington Mystics – 9.7%
• Chicago Sky – 5.5%

Dallas, the frontrunner, recently hired longtime USF coach José Fernández, a figure known for his deep ties to European basketball — a detail that adds a layer of intrigue to the possibility of Fam landing in Texas.

Why Awa Fam Has Become the Centerpiece of the 2026 Discussion

Scouts cite a combination of traits that are rare even among elite prospects:

• A modern center with elite size and lateral mobility
  Fam’s ability to defend in space gives her immediate value in a league defined increasingly by pace and versatility.
• High-level processing in tight offensive situations
  Her short-roll reads, quick decision-making, and passing vision are far more polished than most 19-year-old frontcourt players.
• Consistency across national and European competition
  While NCAA prospects often dominate within their college systems, Fam has excelled against seasoned professionals — making her production easier to project at the WNBA level.
• Competitive maturity beyond her years
  Coaches in Spain describe her approach as “methodical but fearless,” a combination that resonates with the current WNBA style of structured aggression.

Spain Places Two in the First Round: The Broader Impact of a Generation

Fam is not alone in ESPN’s projection. Iyana Martín, another player from Spain’s standout 2006 generation, appears at No. 12, projected to land with the Connecticut Sun. Her inclusion reflects something larger: a European generation reaching its competitive peak at the same time that WNBA franchises have amplified their European scouting presence.

Over the past autumn, General Managers and scouts from multiple WNBA organizations have been spotted repeatedly across European arenas, a shift that signals a structural change in how the league identifies young talent.

The Globalization of the WNBA — and Why Awa Fam Represents Its Future

Awa Fam’s rise is part of a broader, accelerating trend:

• The WNBA is expanding its global footprint.
• European development systems are producing WNBA-ready players earlier.
• Professional experience at 17 or 18 has become an asset in contrast to NCAA players limited by eligibility rules.
• International players bring tactical versatility aligned with the evolving WNBA style.

Fam embodies this intersection. She represents not only the future of Spanish basketball, but also the increasingly international identity of the WNBA.

A Pivotal Draft in a Transformative Year

The 2026 Draft is unfolding against the backdrop of ongoing collective bargaining negotiations, free-agency uncertainty, and organizational reshuffling — a climate where a player like Awa Fam becomes even more valuable.

In a league searching for stability amidst change, the opportunity to draft a franchise cornerstone is rare. And at 19, Fam is viewed as a prospect with the potential to shape an organization for a decade.

A Historic Moment in the Making

As the clock approaches the start of the WNBA Draft Lottery, one thing has become clear: Awa Fam is no longer a rising star — she is a defining figure of the next era of women’s basketball.

Her projected ascent to No. 1 marks a landmark moment for Spanish basketball, a validation of European development pipelines, and a turning point for WNBA scouting strategies.

Whether she lands in Dallas, Minnesota, Seattle, Washington, or Chicago, the expectation remains the same:



Awa Fam is poised to become one of the most impactful international players of her generation.