Despite the WNBA’s CBA extension expiring in two days, the 2026 WNBA Draft lottery this week was quite a distraction for fans.
For the second consecutive season, the Dallas Wings will receive the No.1 overall pick. Two seasons removed from a Finals appearance, the Minnesota Lynx lucked into the second pick, thanks to the Chicago Sky. The Seattle Storm landed the third pick, the Washington Mystics at No. 4, and the Sky at No. 5.
There are over five months until the draft occurs, and a few factors could change before then. However, this draft is unlike the previous two. Despite the accolades of the top heavy hitters of this current class, this one lacks a true superstar prospect.
That’s not to say that teams should trade out of their picks, as several did last year, and will regret that decision because it was one of the deepest groups in WNBA history. That’s not hyperbole; it is the simple truth. Those teams will have ample opportunity to redeem themselves this time around.
For the Dallas Wings, there are many options, but there’s one that stands out above the rest.
At 19 years old, Spanish star Awa Fam represents what decision-makers in WNBA front offices seek out of modern-day post players: fluidity paired with mobility, multidimensional size, and a varied skill set with tentacles that reach out of the paint. Fam is that in every way. As a 6’5 center, Fam is more than comfortable in dynamic schemes (switches/hedges) where she uses her length and foot speed to stick on ball handlers. Her versatility lends her the ability to defend one through five with the same level of efficiency.
Credit: Awa Fam on Instagram
For Dallas, Fam would be the perfect building block next to Paige Bueckers. Fam’s interior defense is one of several parts of her game that will require time to grow. Again, at 19 years old, as an international prospect without collegiate experience, Fam is a project player, and teams should be aware of this when considering her as a selection.
That isn’t to say that it should be a disqualifying factor when making a decision, but there have been instances where teams take international prospects and ultimately refuse to invest and support the start of their careers for various reasons. Not only do I think this won’t be the case for Fam, but I don’t believe that the Wings would allow that to take place.
On offense, Fam is almost exclusively highlighted as an elite finisher at the rim and around it, but that is where it mostly ends. Her jumpshot needs work, but she is comfortable taking mid-range shots along the baseline and face-up looks in the paint. In pick-and-roll scenarios, there aren’t many better operators in Europe. Once her shot improves, she will be even more impactful.
The part of her game that I find fascinating is her activity in transition. She is a matchup nightmare with her size and length, whether she’s creating openings for teammates or scoring in them herself. Fam is a player that Dallas should draft with confidence.
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Born and raised in Chicago, Christan Braswell is a women’s sports journalist with a focus on the WNBA and women’s college basketball. He’s an avid fan of elevator screens and stuffed-crust pizza. Outside of sports, he’s an avid cook and lover of the great outdoors.
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