Awa Fam’s salary in her 2026 rookie season is $436,016, the figure the WNBA’s new rookie scale sets for the No. 3 overall pick. Yahoo Sports reported that her four-year contract with the Seattle Storm is worth about $1.95 million. The Spanish center was drafted on April 13, 2026, in the first draft after the league’s new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) took effect. This guide explains the Awa Fam contract details, how her pay compares with the other top picks, what has happened in her first season, and which questions the public sources do not answer.
Quick answers
- Awa Fam salary, 2026: $436,016 (No. 3 pick rookie scale).
- Awa Fam contract: four years, reported at about $1.95 million in total.
- Guaranteed? Yes. First-round picks get fully guaranteed rookie deals under the new CBA.
- Team: Seattle Storm, drafted third overall on April 13, 2026.
- Born: June 17, 2006, in Santa Pola, Spain. She is 6 feet 4 inches tall and plays center.
Awa Fam Salary in 2026
The WNBA’s rookie scale is fixed, so every player picked in a given slot earns the same base salary. Front Office Sports reported that the No. 3 pick, going to the Storm, would earn $436,016 in 2026. That is more than any player earned in the league in 2025, when the maximum salary was $249,244, according to Front Office Sports.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Awa Fam’s 2026 base salary | $436,016 |
| Reported four-year contract value | about $1.95 million |
| Average per year (our arithmetic: $1.95M ÷ 4) | about $487,500 |
| Share of the $7.0 million salary cap (our arithmetic) | about 6.2% |
| 2025 maximum (supermax) salary | $249,244 |
| Fam’s 2026 salary compared with the 2025 maximum (our arithmetic) | about 1.75 times |
The $1.95 million total is a reported figure. The league’s published rookie scale in the sources we reviewed lists the No. 3 pick’s first-year salary but not the full four-year breakdown.
Awa Fam Contract Details
Here is what the public sources say about the Awa Fam contract:
- Length: four years on the rookie scale. Front Office Sports described the fourth year as a team option.
- Guarantee: every first-round selection receives a fully guaranteed contract in the first season, per Front Office Sports and ESPN.
- EPIC provision: the new CBA includes a path called EPIC (Exceptional Performance on Initial Contract). According to ESPN, as cited by CBS Sports, a player can renegotiate in the fourth year and sign a three-year extension, and can earn the maximum in that year by making an All-WNBA First or Second Team in her first three seasons. A rookie who wins MVP in that span can earn the supermax.
- Overseas deal: Yahoo Sports reported that Fam signed with Valencia Basket in 2025 on a contract running through 2029. The terms of that deal have not been made public in the sources we reviewed.
How the Awa Fam Salary Compares With Other 2026 Rookies
Because the scale is fixed by draft slot, the clearest comparison is with the picks around her:
| Pick | Player | 2026 salary |
|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | Azzi Fudd (Dallas Wings) | $500,000 |
| No. 2 | Olivia Miles (Minnesota Lynx) | $466,913 |
| No. 3 | Awa Fam (Seattle Storm) | $436,016 |
| No. 15 (last first-round pick) | $289,133 | |
| Second and third rounds | $270,000 (league minimum) |
These salaries come from Front Office Sports, Sportico, and CBS Sports. For context, 2025’s No. 1 pick, Paige Bueckers, earned $78,831 as a rookie. Fam’s 2026 salary is about 5.5 times that (our arithmetic: $436,016 ÷ $78,831).
For the league-wide picture, including the cap, minimums, and bonuses, see our guide to WNBA salaries in 2026.
Who Is Awa Fam?
| Quick fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Awa Fam Thiam |
| Born | June 17, 2006, Santa Pola, Spain |
| Age (Sept. 30, 2026) | 20 |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in |
| Position | Center |
| Team | Seattle Storm (No. 3 pick, 2026) |
| Club before the WNBA | Valencia Basket (Spain) |
| National team | Spain |
Fam made her WNBA debut on May 24, 2026, against the Washington Mystics, according to Wikipedia and Yahoo Sports. Before the draft, she was one of four players regularly mentioned near the top of mock drafts, alongside Azzi Fudd, Lauren Betts, and Olivia Miles, Front Office Sports reported.
Awa Fam’s Rookie Season So Far
When she debuted at 19, CBS Sports reported, Fam was the 14th teenager in WNBA history to appear in a game and joined Liz Cambage as the only teenagers to score in double figures in their debut. By mid-season, she was leading all rookies in rebounds and blocks and averaging 11.2 points through 22 games, per CBS. CBS also noted she made 39.2% of her catch-and-shoot three-pointers.
Yahoo Sports’ player page lists her 2026 averages at 10.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists, with a 22-point game against Dallas on September 23 among the most recent games shown. Her numbers have come in a difficult year for Seattle; USA Today described it as a tough season for the Storm.
The temporary suspension and the FIBA World Cup
Before the season, Yahoo Sports reported that the Storm temporarily suspended Fam’s contract. The outlet explained that a temporarily suspended player stays on the team’s salary cap but does not take up a roster spot, and that the status is usually used for overseas commitments or personal reasons. Later coverage, including a USA Today report, described her joining Spain for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup.
What we don’t know: the sources we reviewed do not say how Fam’s salary was handled during any suspension, so we do not make a claim about it.
Awa Fam Net Worth
There is no reliable public figure for Awa Fam’s net worth, and we do not estimate one. What can be verified is the Awa Fam salary of $436,016 for 2026, and her reported four-year, $1.95 million deal. The terms of her Valencia contract and any endorsements have not been reported in the sources we reviewed, so any “net worth” number you see is a guess.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Awa Fam salary in 2026?
$436,016 for the 2026 season, the rookie scale amount for the No. 3 pick.
What are the Awa Fam contract details?
A four-year rookie contract with the Seattle Storm, reported at about $1.95 million in total. It is fully guaranteed in the first season.
Who drafted Awa Fam?
The Seattle Storm, with the third overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft on April 13, 2026.
How old is Awa Fam?
She was born on June 17, 2006, so she is 20 as of September 30, 2026.
How tall is Awa Fam?
6 feet 4 inches, according to Yahoo Sports.
Where is Awa Fam from?
Santa Pola, Spain.
How does Awa Fam’s salary compare with Azzi Fudd’s?
Fudd, the No. 1 pick, earns $500,000 in 2026, which is $63,984 more than Fam.
What is the WNBA minimum salary in 2026?
$270,000 for second- and third-round picks, and $270,000 to $300,000 league-wide depending on experience, per the league’s CBA announcement.
Did Awa Fam play for Spain in 2026?
Yes. Yahoo and USA Today reported she joined Spain for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup.
Awa Fam Salary and Contract: Summary
Awa Fam’s salary is $436,016 in 2026, set by the WNBA’s rookie scale for the No. 3 pick, and her fully guaranteed four-year contract with the Seattle Storm is reported at about $1.95 million. That is the third-richest first-year salary in the 2026 class, behind only Azzi Fudd ($500,000) and Olivia Miles ($466,913), and several times what 2025’s top pick earned. The public sources do not explain how pay worked during her temporary suspension or give details of her Valencia deal.
