Awa Fam is the most obvious No.1 overall pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft — a 19-year-old prodigy redefining what a modern big should look like.
People Still Don’t Get How Good Awa Fam Really Is
I don’t even think WNBA execs fully understand what they’re looking at. We’re talking about Awa Fam, a 6’5” forward who plays like she’s 30 but hasn’t even hit 20 yet.
Last year around this time, Dominique Malonga was projected to go mid-first round — maybe seventh overall. Look how that aged. Malonga ended up being one of the most impressive young bigs we’ve seen in years.
And yet, somehow, Awa Fam might already be better.
If you want to argue Paige Bueckers deserves that top pick, fine. She’s that good — I won’t fight you. But that’s what makes this discussion wild. Because Awa Fam is so good that the only recent prospects you could even consider taking over her are names like Caitlin Clark.
That’s how rare she is.
Born Different — Literally
Fam was born in June 2006. Let that sink in. She won’t even turn 20 until about 15 games into her rookie season.
She plays in Spain’s LF Endesa — a legit pro league stacked with EuroLeague talent. And she’s dominating grown women right now. This isn’t college-level hype. This is the real thing.
At 19, she’s dropping 17 and 9 like it’s light work. Her game isn’t built on athletic flashes; it’s built on IQ, fluidity, and control. Watch her film — she pump fakes, resets screens, calls for cutters, rolls hard, finishes through contact. She processes the game like a veteran big who’s already logged five WNBA seasons.
She’s what happens when skill meets composure.
Comparisons? She’s Already Outgrown Them
Let’s be clear: Awa Fam is not just another Lauren Betts or Camila Cardoso-type.
Lauren Betts is solid, but she’s more traditional — a back-to-basket interior anchor. Fam? She’s a modern big.
She can:
- Handle the ball out of the high post.
- Face up and hit the midrange or three.
- Run pick-and-rolls or pick-and-pops.
- Pass like a hub through traffic.
- Defend in space — switch, recover, and protect the rim.
You can’t teach that at 19.
When you think about where the WNBA is headed — bigs like A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston leading the evolution — Awa Fam fits that exact mold. She’s the next wave.
She’s Not a Prospect. She’s a System
Let’s talk fit.
If the Dallas Wings land the No. 1 pick, it’s not even a conversation. They need her.
Olivia Miles? Great prospect. But Dallas doesn’t need another high-usage guard. They need a modern inside-out engine — a player who can be both the anchor and the playmaker.
Fam is that.
You pair her with Paige Bueckers or even a competent point guard, and suddenly you’ve got the blueprint of a dynasty. Dallas could literally recreate what UConn used to be — the inside-out connection that defines championship basketball.
Minnesota might chase Olivia Miles, the true point they’ve been missing. But Dallas? Dallas is built for Awa Fam.
If She Went to College… It Would’ve Been a Wrap
Here’s the wild part — if Awa Fam had chosen college ball instead of going pro overseas, she’d be the number one recruit in the nation. Easily.
Forget Jazzy Davidson. Forget Aaliyah Chavez. Fam’s size, IQ, and versatility would’ve broken college basketball in half.
Imagine her joining UConn alongside Sarah Strong — it would’ve been over before it started. Three straight national titles, minimum. No question.
She’s that far ahead of her peers — both physically and mentally.
Modern Basketball Has Moved On — And She’s Proof
We’re watching an era shift in the WNBA.
Old-school bigs — the ones who can’t move, can’t pass, can’t switch — are being phased out. Tianna McCowan-type players are getting played off the floor. Even legends like Brittney Griner are adjusting to stay relevant in a league that now demands versatility.
Awa Fam is the answer to that evolution.
She’s not the past — she’s the future blueprint. A player who can score, defend, create, and stretch the floor.
You can count the number of “modern bigs” in the WNBA right now on one hand:
- A’ja Wilson
- Aliyah Boston
- Napheesa Collier
- Alanna Smith
That’s basically it. Fam joins that club on Day One.
Final Verdict — The Most Obvious No.1 Pick in Years
So let’s just say it clearly:
Awa Fam is the most obvious No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft.
No ifs. No buts. No “what ifs.”
She’s 19, dominating pros, redefining the position, and perfectly aligned with where the WNBA is heading.
Lauren Betts? Great player. But taking her over Awa Fam would be like drafting an outdated archetype in a league that’s already evolved past it.
Fam isn’t just a pick. She’s a philosophy.
She’s the future of women’s basketball.
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