Q. Today you made history for Spanish basketball. I would like to know how do you feel to represent Spanish basketball in the WNBA? And how do you picture this new chapter in Seattle?
AWA FAM THIAM: I would say, I feel super, super grateful. I'm super excited to be here. I can't wait to know more about Seattle, about the team, about the city because this is amazing. This was like my dream since I was only three years old. So being here, only looking at me, my family at the table, it was amazing. It was a good experience.
Q. What players from the WNBA did you admire as you were coming up in basketball?
AWA FAM THIAM: If I would like to choose maybe one idol since I was super little it's Astou Ndour because Astou Ndour for me is special. She's from Senegal, like my parents. So, she's a super humble person. She's always like helping in Senegal with tournaments with the children. So for me this is super special.
And right now, of course, if I say one person, I will say A'ja Wilson, I like her. I love her, her life off court, on court, she's amazing. So maybe Astou Ndour and A'ja Wilson.
Q. You're heading into a Seattle situation where they just lost a couple of players and some people are saying they're going into a rebuild situation. But how do you kind of embrace that situation on your end, especially working with players like Ezi [Magbegor] and Dominique Malonga?
AWA FAM THIAM: I think it's going to be fun, you know, I think that being like a center but I think that I can play like a power forward and being practicing all the time against with Dominique Malonga and with Ezi. I think it's going to be fun. I think we can be like a great duo or great three, like three people great. We are at big centers, we can move faster. So I think it's going to be super fun.
Q. Cathy Engelbert mentioned about wanting to expand the WNBA's global footprint, hinting at games beyond North American borders in the coming future. What sort of growth have you seen from the WNBA internationally over the past few seasons? How can you best help contribute to that goal on the path forward?
AWA FAM THIAM: I think, for example, right now the WNBA has been a good help for us. I think we need to be proud being here in the W. I think the players are going to help each other. What it's going to be, look like for this league being one of the best leagues, before being in the best leagues on this right now.
And I'm super happy that, for example, a lot of international players are here. Like this year, for example, a lot of Spanish girls are here, French players. It's nice, like being in the W is growing up and it's nice to have a lot of players from around the world playing in the W. This is because the W is doing well.
Q. What has your time with Valencia Basket taught you about the chess match of professional basketball that college doesn't show?
AWA FAM THIAM: Valencia for me is super special. Valencia for me is like my second home. I was already in Valencia when I was 12 years old. When I was like 15 years old, I started playing against professional basketball players in the first league. Valencia is special because they take care of me. They talk with my parents. You need to realize because she's going to grow up, she's going to be great here in Valencia.
For example, I'd say no to the universities first here in the USA because I was thinking Valencia is my place. They take care of me. So I would love to play here to try the EuroLeague. I think trying in Europe was the best thing and right now, of course, it is going well.
Q. You grew up playing the European style of basketball. Have you thought about the way you would adapt to the American style?
AWA FAM THIAM: I think it's going to be easy because maybe the difference or the big difference, maybe, the physicality in Europe we didn't use so much, and the USA, we know in the W they are really used so much. But I think it's not going to be difficult because the players, a lot of players in Europe, they are playing in the WNBA. They are the same players. I know how they play, for example.
I need to lock into what I need to do, of course. I need to learn about more the league. I'm going to need help, of course, like my team, by my coaches. But I think it's not going to be difficult because I think it's the same that the EuroLeague team or the best teams in Europe.
Q. Can you just walk me through, I guess, two parts, one, just the moment of hearing your name called? Two, realizing you're going to Seattle Storm and Sonia Raman is now the head coach, this is officially her first draft pick with Seattle Storm as the head coach, what's that kind of feeling like for you to just know that your head coach and that you're the first pick of her tenure?
AWA FAM THIAM: When I was listening, like, to my name, it was crazy. I was looking at my family. They were telling me, we're super proud of you, congratulations.
So, it's special for me, looking at my family, looking at my people in Spain, watching me, telling me, we are super proud of you.
For me, this is the most special thing. And after seeing that my dream comes true, this is special. So a lot of emotion. But super excited, super happy.
Second of all, this is a good thing. This is a good thing that the head coach selects me there in Seattle. I think it's going to be super fun. I can't wait to be there. I can't wait to know about the head coach, about the team, about the city. So I'm super, super happy and super grateful, of course, and thank you to them.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports