BERLIN (Germany) - One of the most exciting young players on the planet and still only scratching the surface of her sky-high potential, Awa Fam has highlighted her commitment to stepping out with Spain and making her FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup debut.
The standout center has been making plenty of positive waves at club level on both sides of the Atlantic recently, but the powerhouse also now looks destined to establish herself as someone a leader for her country during the coming years.
I always want to be with the national team, so I want to be at this World Cup and fulfill another dream
Fam is continuing to deliver against the potential she has shown ever since she picked up a basketball aged 8 years-old. A product of the Valencia youth academy, she became the youngest player to debut with the first team when just 15 years, 5 months, and 5 days old.
She has since played in EuroLeague and EuroCup Women and recently celebrated winning the Spanish 205-26 Championship With a track record of success at youth level for Spain, including winning MVP honors and multiple All-Star Five recognition, Fam has also made people sit up and take notice of her ability to deliver on the big stage. She posted a stellar FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 when she propelled Spain to within seconds of landing the famous trophy, before ultimately having to accept heartbreak and take silver.
They stepped into what proved to be a Final for the ages off the back of Fam's outstanding contribution of 21 points in the dramatic Semi-Final derby success against France. It's the kind of impact that the highly committed Fam is looking to repeat this year in Berlin, when the team sets their sights on another podium finish. "I'll always want to be with the national team. The first time I put on the Spanish jersey, I thought that from then on, I hoped I could do it every summer," she told AS.com. "Last year we did something really cool at the EuroBasket, and I think this World Cup will be the same. I always want to be with the national team, so I want to be at this World Cup and fulfill another dream."
Spain will be one of the favorites to push for a medal, even if several of the players are young like Fam herself. There's her close friend and teammate Iyana Martin - another emerging star who could also be pivotal. However, a lack of experience isn't something that Fam is too concerned with as she prepares to take to the senior global stage for the first time in her career.
So, is glory within Spain's grasp?
The competition will certainly be fierce and Spain are in a crowded field when it comes to those with eyes on the podium, from red-hot favorites USA to the likes of fellow Europeans France, Belgium and the highly fancied Australia. "Nothing is easy, but everything is possible," mused Fam.
"Those of us who are joining the national team are a new, young generation; we're just starting to get to know each other, to gain more experience in these kinds of tournaments and matches. Everything is possible, but it will be very difficult. "We have to train together a lot, get to know each other… there have been many changes in the last few training camps," she continued.
"Of course, we dream about it. We're so competitive that we're going to try, we'll do whatever it takes to achieve it. I don't think it's impossible, and if the opportunity arises, we'll go for it." Fam and Spain will face a seriously tough test during the group stage in Berlin, facing host nation Germany, along with Japan and Mali. Their last medal came at the 2018 edition when they took bronze on home soil in Tenerife, having previously made the Final of the competition for the first time, four years earlier in Istanbul.
FIBA