When the Seattle Storm took the floor for their home game, history was made by a player who had just arrived in the country. Awa Fam secured a spot in an exclusive WNBA club that superstars like Caitlin Clark could never even qualify for.

It was a composed entry for Fam during the Seattle Storm’s 97-85 victory over the Washington Mystics on May 24, 2026. She came off the bench and played 20 minutes. She finished with 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal. She shot an efficient 4-of-7 from the field. 

An ESPN Insights post on X revealed that Fam became only the second teenager in WNBA history to score 10 or more points in a debut game. This feat is rare due to the strict eligibility rules of the league.

The WNBA requires American prospects to be at least 22 years old or to have exhausted their college eligibility. Legendary forward Penny Taylor was the first player connected to this debut category during the early years of the league.

Her first bucket was a layup off a pick-and-roll with Flau'jae Johnson late in the 2nd quarter. Fam's production was even more remarkable considering she arrived in Seattle just two days prior. 

This age barrier explains why Clark never reached this specific milestone. When Clark made her professional debut for the Indiana Fever in May 2024, she was already 22 years old after finishing her historic four-year college career at Iowa. 

Clark did score 20 points in her first game against the Connecticut Sun, but she did it as a full adult rookie.

Fam also became just the 14th teenager under the age of 20 to ever appear in a regular-season WNBA game. Seattle head coach Sonia Raman described the debut performance as great, noting the impact the rookie made despite having almost no practice time with the team. 

Her debut performance explains why Seattle made a bold move on draft night.

Why Seattle Believed Awa Fam Could Become the Future

The Seattle Storm selected Fam with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft on April 13. General Manager Talisa Rhea called her one of the most dynamic young talents during the draft announcement.

Fam signed a professional contract with Valencia Basket in Spain back in December 2021. Back then, she was just 15 years old. During that playoff title run, in the 2025-26 season with Valencia, Fam averaged 9.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. 

Fam led the Spanish youth national team through 6 major tournaments in 4 years. This also includes a brilliant performance at the 2022 FIBA U16 Women's European Championship, where she averaged 13.1 points and 10.1 rebounds. 

Reaching teenage milestones remains one of the hardest achievements due to the strict structural rules of the WNBA. Share your thoughts about the Awa Fam's historic debut for the Seattle Storm? 

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Souvik Roy