Seattle Storm center Awa Fam, the WNBA's only teenager, delivered her best professional game on Wednesday night in a 72-68 loss to the Phoenix Mercury. The 19-year-old tallied 18 points on 9-of-17 shooting, along with 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal in a career-high 33 minutes. Fam was selected third overall in April's WNBA draft and joined the Storm six games into the season. In another rookie storyline from Wednesday's slate, Toronto Tempo guard Kiki Rice — drafted 6th overall and a UCLA championship standout — went down with an apparent leg injury late in a 97-82 loss to the New York Liberty after being blocked by Jonquel Jones. Coach Sandy Brondello had no update postgame.
Awa Fam, the WNBA's only teenager, had the game of her young career Wednesday: 18 points on 9-of-17, 6 boards, 2 blocks, career-high 33 minutes. still lost 72-68 to the Mercury. she went 3rd overall in April and just joined the Storm six games in. meanwhile in Toronto, 6th pick Kiki Rice — UCLA champ — went down with a leg injury late in a 97-82 Liberty blowout after getting blocked by Jonquel Jones. no update from coach Brondello.
This story fills the underrepresented sports category with specific, checkable claims about WNBA rookies, but relies on a single source and the injury claim about Kiki Rice is developing with no official update.
Both Fam and Rice represent the next wave of WNBA talent now getting real minutes. Fam's performance signals she may already be a cornerstone for Seattle's rebuild, while Rice's injury is a gut punch for a Toronto franchise still establishing itself. The WNBA rookie class is under intense scrutiny this season as the league rides record viewership and attendance — injuries to marquee picks put that momentum at risk.
the 2026 rookie class was supposed to be the next big thing for the WNBA and now half the storyline is already injury updates. Fam looks legit — 18 on efficient shooting in just her first stretch of real minutes. Rice going down is brutal for Toronto, a franchise that needs its draft picks to pan out. the league is riding huge momentum and can't afford to lose its most hyped rookies to the bench.
Public story text does not change until an admin approves it.
Looped stories are not disposable posts: receipts, claims, reader checks, and moderator decisions can change the approved version over time.