The 2026 WNBA Draft doesn’t have a clear No. 1 pick. However, one name keeps ringing among the mix of talents heading into the draft: Awa Fam Thiam.
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At just 19, the Spanish center has already built a résumé stacked with international medals, historic milestones, and comparisons to stars like A’ja Wilson. But beyond the stats and scouting reports, fans are asking a different question: Who is Awa Fam really? From her roots to her religion, here’s everything to know about the rising prospect’s background.
Where Is Awa Fam From and What Is Her Nationality?
Awa Fam Thiam is Spanish by nationality. She was born in Spain and has represented Spain at multiple levels of international basketball from a very young age. She has consistently represented the Spanish national team, competing in youth tournaments such as the FIBA U17 and U19 World Cups and later progressing to the senior team.
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What Is Awa Fam’s Ethnicity and Family Background?
Although she was born and raised in Spain, Awa Fam’s ethnicity is Senegalese. Both of her parents are originally from Senegal. This gives Fam a dual cultural identity, African by heritage and Spanish by nationality.
Fam was born on June 17, 2006, in Alicante, a coastal city in southeastern Spain. She also grew up in the same city, and from a young age, she became immersed in basketball. Growing up in Spain, Fam developed through the country’s structured basketball system, which has produced some of Europe’s top talents.
She had early access to elite coaching and competitive youth leagues. And this early exposure to high-level competition allowed her to rise quickly, making her professional debut for Valencia Basket at just 15 years old, a historic milestone that immediately put her on the map.
What Religion Does Awa Fam Follow?
As of now, Awa Fam has not openly discussed her personal beliefs in interviews, and there are no verified reports that clearly state whether she follows a particular faith. However, her mother, Arame Thiam, once publicly stated that the family is Muslim while speaking about her daughter’s upbringing and the values their family upholds.
Regarding the cultural context of her background, while Fam was born to Senegalese parents, there is no public record of her religion.
Which High School Did Awa Fam Attend?
Unlike many American prospects heading into the 2026 WNBA Draft, Awa Fam did not follow the traditional U.S. high school basketball pathway. Instead, her development took place within Spain’s professional club and academy system.
Fam began her education at CEIP Virgen de Loreto in Santa Pola, Spain, where she spent her early school years. During this time, she played multiple sports, including handball and volleyball, before ultimately focusing on basketball.
Her introduction to basketball was heavily influenced by her family, particularly her older brothers, who played at the local Club Deportivo Polanens. She would accompany them to training sessions. This led her to gradually develop an interest in the sport before joining youth teams at the club.
Fam then progressed through local levels (U8, U10, and U14), combining school life with early competitive basketball. And at just 12 years old, she made a life-changing decision to leave Santa Pola and pursue basketball at a higher level. After a coach identified her, she moved to Valencia to join the elite system of Valencia Basket.
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This move marked the end of a traditional schooling path and the beginning of a more demanding, professionally oriented routine. And so her equivalent of a high school program was L’Alqueria del Basket, the high-performance academy of Valencia Basket. This institution is designed to integrate academics with elite sports training. So it allowed young athletes to pursue education while preparing for professional careers.
At L’Alqueria, Fam attended school and lived in a supervised apartment with fellow players. The daily routine was school in the morning, followed by individual training sessions, and then extended team practices in the evening.
Fam’s progression within the academy was exceptionally fast. She quickly moved up the ranks and began training with players older than her age group. And ultimately, her development at L’Alqueria directly led to her professional debut at just 15 years old, becoming the youngest player in Valencia Basket’s history. And at just 19, she’s also the youngest player going into the 2026 WNBA draft.
Written by
Edited by
Pranav Venkatesh