Expectations for Dominique Malonga’s WNBA career are high. Before the start of the season, sixty percent of WNBA GMs voted Malonga as the 2025 rookie who would be the best player in five years. Fans are also eagerly waiting for Malonga’s first dunk in the WNBA.
While Malonga’s potential is obvious, her youth is as well. At just 19, she is currently the youngest player in the league and is much younger than most rookies. For the Storm, that is a blessing. They landed a future star who is still years away from her prime and will get to develop her into a franchise centerpiece, while veterans Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins are helping the team win now.
Malonga may not see as many minutes as other rookies, but she still has a unique opportunity to grow her game with the Storm.
Dominique Malonga gets to be around great veterans
Most rookies who get to play heavy minutes in their first WNBA season are on young rebuilding teams with few veterans. Malonga’s situation is quite different. The Storm didn’t have the second overall pick in the draft because they struggled in the last few seasons but because they traded Jewell Loyd this offseason.
So, Malonga is on a veteran team that wants to be competitive and go on a playoff run. While that means that she won’t play as many minutes as other rookies, it comes with a different perk.
With the Storm, Malonga has the chance to be around great veterans and learn from two of the top bigs in the league. Nneka Ogwumike is a WNBA champion, former MVP, and one of the most respected veterans in the league. Even at age 34, she still leads the Storm in scoring and rebounding, averaging a double-double over the first four games.
Ezi Magbegor’s resume may not be quite as stacked as Ogwumike’s but the 25-year-old has already won a WNBA championship and emerged as a defensive standout. Malonga has often been compared to Magbegor but is expected to have a higher ceiling.
Until she reaches that ceiling, Malonga will benefit from being around two veteran bigs and learn how to become a true two-way force at the WNBA level. With the limited minutes available for her at the moment, Malonga will largely have to grow her game off the WNBA court and then make the most of any minutes she gets to play.
Dominique Malonga looked good in Seattle’s win over Las Vegas
Malonga has not seen many minutes in the Storm’s first four games. The team’s recent blowout win over the Las Vegas Aces marked the first time she played over ten minutes. She made the most of her opportunity.
While Malonga struggled to defend A’ja Wilson, she finished the game with eight points on 4-7 shooting from the field and five rebounds. She was the Storm’s second-leading scorer off the bench behind Erica Wheeler, who scored 21 points in 30 minutes.
Malonga looked increasingly more comfortable and confident the longer she was on the court.