The final player to be Unrivaled is Dominique Malonga, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft. Malonga had a strong second half in her rookie season, averaging 11.4 points and 6.7 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per game over her last 20 games. For the entirety of the season, she averaged 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds and was named to the WNBA All-Rookie team.
This signing comes as a surprise, as Malonga was initially supposed to play for the Turkish club Fenerbahce. But that’s another topic for another day. Now, let’s talk about how playing in Unrivaled will unlock Malonga’s game.
Unrivaled will help improve Malonga’s isolation game
The 3-on-3 format naturally provides more floor spacing, with fewer players on the court. It forces players to defend out in space, play more quickly, read defenses, and be more decisive, knowing when to shoot, attack, or pass. By being repeatedly put in iso situations, Malonga will get on-the-hands developmental reps, forcing her to develop moves off the dribble, enhance her footwork, and gain the opportunity and confidence to create her own shot more consistently.
With more space, additional touches, and a league that emphasizes one-on-one matchups, Unrivaled provides the ideal setting for Malonga to elevate her game.
Malonga will play alongside and against WNBA stars
Malonga, who was the league's youngest player last season, at 19 years old, doesn’t turn 20 until November 16th, and will be playing alongside and against WNBA stars. This will give her the direct opportunity to learn, observe, and implement the habits and daily processes of other WNBA stars off the court.
On the court, Unrivaled will help expand Malonga’s all-around game by giving her more reps with the ball in her hands, in contrast to her rookie season with Seattle, where she primarily operated in the paint. Unrivaled will allow her to extend her game out on the perimeter. Defensively, the 3-on-3 format forces players to guard all three positions, which will challenge Malonga to increase her awareness and sharpen her mind, becoming more versatile by being switchable.
By competing against some of the best talent, Malonga will gain valuable experience that will not only help her become more accustomed to basketball in the United States but also benefit her once the WNBA season rolls around again. It will also allow her to pick up on some of the best players' tendencies by directly matching up, in a condensed setting, testing her mentally, and enhancing her IQ.
These lessons from the WNBA’s best will give her an up: physically and mentally — which could be the first key in unlocking Malonga’s true potential.