Despite a trip to the playoffs in 2024, the Seattle Storm ended up with the second overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. They got the pick from Los Angeles in the trade that moved Jewell Loyd and Kelsey Plum. Seattle used the pick to select French teenager Dominique Malonga.
Unlike many other European teenagers, Malonga joined the Storm right away and even skipped EuroBasket to focus on her rookie season in the WNBA. With her commitment obvious, the Storm had to figure out how to make up for losing Loyd and give Malonga a chance to develop while also competing for a playoff spot.
After the Storm’s most recent win over the New York Liberty, there is little doubt left that they have figured out how to balance the present with the future and Malonga’s development. Not only did the Storm beat the reigning champions, but Malonga played incredibly well.
Dominique Malonga had a big game against the Liberty
Malonga played only 10 minutes against the Liberty. That is more than she played in many other games this season, but still not a lot. Malonga immediately found ways to impact the game in her limited minutes.
She finished the game with 11 points on 5-7 shooting from the field and eight rebounds despite going up against Breanna Stewart for most of her minutes. With Jonquel Jones out, Malonga’s size gave her a massive advantage against the Liberty. At 6’6, the rookie even towers over Stewart.
Despite only playing 10 minutes, Malonga led the Storm in rebounds and was one of five Seattle players to score in double figures. She even outscored three of the Liberty’s starters in her limited minutes. Breanna Stewart, Kennedy Bruke, and Leonie Fiebich didn’t reach double-digit scoring. Neither did any of the Liberty’s reserves.
Malonga scored 11 points once before this season when she played 20 minutes against the Connecticut Sun. This time, she did it against much tougher competition and in fewer minutes, though.
Malonga has a bright future in the WNBA
At only 19, Malonga is the youngest player in the WNBA. While she has great talent, her youth and inexperience give her a disadvantage against players who have been playing professionally and working on their games for decades longer. That and the fact that the Storm already have a great starting frontcourt have resulted in limited minutes for Malonga all season long.
Nevertheless, it is obvious that Malonga is taking strides and growing more confident. Since she is so much younger than the usual WNBA rookie, she and the Storm can afford to take their time with her development and allow her to play for a winning team early in her career.
In a few years, Malonga might just be one of the best centers in the league and the Storm will have a young player to build around when veterans Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike leave or are ready to take a step back. Both are in their mid-thirties and still playing at an All-Star level. It will likely be a few years until they even consider retirement, but it is not guaranteed that either will stay with the Storm for the rest of their career.