With the 2026 WNBA Draft less than a month away, the latest projection has the Dallas Wings selecting a teenager from Spain with the top overall pick.
In a final pre-NCAA Tournament mock draft published Sunday, The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant projects the Wings will take Valencia center Awa Fam at No. 1 on April 13 in New York — the most recent projection to slot Fam to Dallas ahead of one of the most anticipated drafts in recent league history.
Awa Fam Turns Heads on the International Stage
Fam is a 19-year-old, 6-foot-4 center who plays professionally for Valencia in Spain. She emerged as a prominent draft prospect following Spain’s World Cup qualifier against Team USA, where she recorded 10 points and five rebounds against elite competition.
The Athletic highlighted Fam’s versatility as a central piece of her profile, noting her ability to guard on the perimeter and in the paint while playing effectively as both a center and power forward. Merchant pointed to that World Cup qualifier as evidence of Fam’s readiness.
“Look no further than Fam’s performance in Spain’s World Cup qualifier game against the U.S. for proof that she can hang with the world’s best players,” Merchant wrote.
Her mobility and floor-reading instincts drew particular praise, as did her comfort defending against smaller lineups. Offensively, Fam converted 5 of 7 two-point attempts and flashed a step-back midrange jumper. Her limited experience in high-level organized competition is considered the primary question mark, but Merchant pushed back on that concern.
“She is already just as good at a younger age,” Merchant wrote of Fam relative to the college prospects in this class.
Dallas Wings Have Options With the First Overall Pick
Dallas owns the No. 1 pick after finishing with the worst record in the WNBA in 2025. The Wings went 10-34 across the league’s 44-game season amid ownership and front office transitions. The organization is in the early stages of a rebuild, making the draft a pivotal moment for setting the tone of that process.
The draft order has remained unchanged since the November lottery, though The Athletic noted transactions could still shift the board before April 13.
The 2026 WNBA Draft is set for April 13 in New York. Merchant noted that a strong NCAA Tournament run could still shake up draft stock, so projections remain subject to change before draft night.
The WNBA regular season is scheduled to tip off May 8, following a new collective bargaining agreement finalized this week that confirmed the season will start on time.
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