France dominated its first two World Cup games, beating Hungary 99-53 and Korea 95-69. That’s not much of a surprise considering that France entered the tournament as Team USA’s biggest challenger after almost winning gold at the Paris Olympics two years ago and fielding a roster full of WNBA players.
What’s new for France is Dominique Malonga’s impact. At the Olympics two years ago, mostly just played in France’s group-phase games and totalled 11 points over those three contests. She played only two minutes in the gold medal game and finished the contest with 1 rebound and 1 assist.
Now, Malonga is one of France’s most important players. She ranks fourth in minutes per game, trailing only Valeriana Ayayi, Gabby Williams, Leila Lacan, and Marine Johannes. She also leads the team in rebounds per game and is tied with Williams for the second-most points per game.
Since the last meeting between the USA and France, Malonga has blossomed into a WNBA All-Star and one of the most fascinating young talents in the world. Her rise could make a potential rematch even more difficult for Team USA than the last meeting was, especially with A’ja Wilson out.
Dominique Malonga makes France all the more dangerous
The story of Team USA at the World Cup this year is one of young stars coming in and a changing of the guard. Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, Aliyah Boston, Rhyne Howard, and Kiki Iriafen are all making their senior national team debuts on one of the biggest stages in the world.
However, France also has a plethora of young talent. Malonga, Leila Lacan, Carla Leite, Janelle Salaün, and Pauline Astier are all 25 or younger and competing in the WNBA this summer. France’s roster is so stacked that Marine Fauthoux, who basically took Betnijah Laney-Hamilton’s spot on the Liberty’s roster and played at the Paris Olympics, didn’t even make it.
WNBA teams are well aware of the trouble Lacan, Leite, and Astier can cause in the guard rotation and of Salaün’s lethal 3-point shot. Still, Malonga may just provide the biggest challenge out of France’s group of young talent next to Williams, Johannes, and Ayayi.
Familiarity from the WNBA doesn’t make Malonga’s length and versatility any easier to deal with for Team USA’s bigs—especially considering that she has a more well-rounded and experienced team around her on the international stage than in the W.
Malonga’s inside presence off the bench could be France’s X factor if they get another chance to challenge the U.S. for a gold medal. Marieme Badiane played well in Paris as France’s top center, but Malonga just gives the team another level of height and talent that it will need to contend with Team USA.
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