Seattle Storm center Awa Fam put together her best WNBA game yet in a Wednesday night 72-68 loss to the Phoenix Mercury. Fam, who is the league’s only teenager, tallied 18 points on 9-17 shooting to go along with 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal. Fam played a career-high 33 minutes in the loss.
Fam was selected third overall in April’s WNBA draft and joined the Storm 6 games into the season after fulfilling overseas obligations. In five contests played, she’s averaging 9.8 points and 5 rebounds, shooting 44.9% from the field. Wednesday was her first time eclipsing 10 points since she made her season debut on May 24th.
In Seattle, Fam joins a loaded frontcourt that includes 20-year-old, second-year standout Dominique Malonga and 26-year-old Ezi Magbegor. Malonga has been sidelined since May 13th with a concussion, while Magbegor has yet to make her season debut as she recovers from a right foot injury she suffered a month ago.
In turn, Fam is getting an extensive opportunity, and she’s made the most of it.
Awa Fam is not the only rookie to excel in the early days
Olivia Miles, who was selected second overall by the Minnesota Lynx, has been the WNBA’s most impactful rookie thus far. The former TCU standout is averaging 15.8 points and 6.3 assists per game, leading all rookies in both categories.
Azzi Fudd, who was selected second overall, is averaging 12.1 points while shooting 43.8% from three, and has played a significant role in the Wings’ 6-3 start to the season.
And, UCLA standouts Gabriella Jaquez and Kiki Rice, who were selected fifth and second overall by the Chicago Sky and Toronto Tempo, respectively, have both been effective. Jaquez is averaging 11.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game, while Rice is averaging 12.7 points, 4,7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game.
Fam may have been forgotten in the early days of the season since she was a late arrival to Seattle, but the 6’4 Spanish-Senegalese center has made her mark since arriving in the States.
