At only 18, Awa Fam of Spain has already been compared to WNBA megastar A’ja Wilson after she made a name for herself in international basketball. With her latest recognition as the youngest MVP at the 2023 FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship, Fam is creating a niche for herself as one of the top young prospects in women’s basketball. Standing at 193 cm, she has the physical tools and basketball IQ to dominate the game at both ends of the floor.

What really sets Fam apart is her versatility and advanced skillset for her age. Joining the “Locked on Women’s Basketball Podcast”, basketball analyst Hunter Cruse said she is already way more advanced than A’ja Wilson at this age. “She’s hedging. She’s playing whatever game you want her to play. In her case, at 18, she’s a plus in all of those to me,” Cruse said. He then went on to emphasize that even though defense is considered her weakest area, Awa Fam is already excelling in it.

He also cited Fam’s physicality and basketball intelligence, saying she can read the game and adjust to situations beyond her years. Awa Fam is a player who could not only score but also provide a lot on defense—so rare in women’s basketball. “The craziest part is, I would say her defense is probably her worst skill. Yeah, she has all of the tools, but it’s just not quite there yet. She hasn’t quite pieced everything together,” Cruse added.

The journey to the top for Awa Fam has been nothing but extraordinary. She was spectacular at her performance during the FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship. Playing in the center position for the Spanish national team, she led her team to the title by being able to control the paint, score efficiently, and anchor the defense. Her domination in the tournament earned her the MVP title, making her the youngest player ever to receive this award.

A Future Star in the Making: Comparison of Awa Fam and A’ja Wilson

Comparisons between A’ja Wilson and Awa Fam are not something that can seriously be put on the plate. Now a WNBA superstar, she has collected nearly every individual accolade that the league could throw at her, including MVP awards, and was a tour de force in college basketball long before she ever entered the WNBA. But according to Cruse and other analysts, Fam was showing even more signs of advanced ability than Wilson was at 18. Wilson was best at scoring and defending, but Fam can do everything at an early age, which puts her ahead of the former. Fam can score and defend equally well, making her a versatile prospect.

Cruse highlights the prodigious performance that Awa Fam is putting up at such an early age, and he mentions physical abilities and flexibility. He added that the combination of size and strength for someone just turning 18 was an amazing trait. Cruse further explained that Fam’s skill set just perfectly fits to be the most valuable player type in the WNBA. The extent to which she can be central as center/forward for both offensive and defense strategies is just bewildering. He noted that Fam’s all-around abilities make her a better and more of a total player than Wilson ever was.

Of course, the expectations are through the roof for Fam as she navigates through. With her size, skill set, and basketball IQ mixed, she can be a force in the WNBA. Her years in international competitions have already been able to prove that she can hang with the best. But, as the years roll on, she very well may surpass some of what even a player like A’ja Wilson has accomplished.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.