The Storm and Aces couldn’t have ended the regular season in more different ways. Las Vegas is riding a 16-game win streak into the playoffs, while Seattle only won six of its fourteen games in August and barely edged out the Sparks for the final playoff spot. The Aces’ surge to the top of the league and the Storm’s drop-off put the two teams on a collision course to meet in the playoffs for the fourth time since 2020.
The Storm may be a bottom-three seed, but they have the best chance in that group to give their first-round opponent a major challenge. Seattle’s roster features four All-Stars—Skylar Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike, Gabby Williams, and Brittney Sykes—and plenty of veteran experience. Meanwhile, the Indiana Fever overcame five season-ending injuries on their way to the playoffs, and the Golden State Valkyries have to brave the postseason without All-Star Kayla Thornton and with the worst offensive rating among playoff teams.
The Storm’s chances of putting up a serious fight against the seemingly unstoppable Aces ride on a surprising wild card: 19-year-old rookie Dominique Malonga.
Dominique Malonga has come a long way in her rookie season
Malonga is far from the same player she was at the start of the season. She went from barely playing in most games to regularly playing 20 or more minutes. In just a few months, Malonga gained a tremendous amount of experience and confidence. She recorded three double-doubles in August—two with at least 20 points—and a near double-double with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks in a 95-60 win over the Wings.
Due to her impressive play since the All-Star Break, Malonga should even be in the conversation for the Sixth Player of the Year award. Getting solid production from Malonga off the bench could make the difference between a win and a loss for the Storm. Their bench isn’t particularly deep. Erica Wheeler usually leads the charge, followed by Malonga and Tiffany Mitchell.
While rotations usually shrink in the playoffs, an energizer off the bench can be invaluable. Malonga could be just that. Just a few months ago, few people would have expected Malonga to be a major factor in the Storm’s playoff run, but her on/off numbers have been impressive lately. Over the last fifteen games, she had a positive net rating of 11.2, improving the Storm’s offensive rating by 9.4 points.
Malonga played well against the Aces before
One of Malonga’s best games of the season actually came against the Las Vegas Aces. When the two teams met for the fourth time in the regular season, Malonga scored 22 points on 8-11 shooting, grabbed 12 rebounds, and got one steal.
While Malonga struggled to guard A’ja Wilson—as everyone else in the league does—she was a problem offensively, scoring on fast breaks, in pick-and-rolls, and out of post-up situations. The highlights of her game were undoubtedly a bucket off a drive against Chelsea Gray and an and-one when A’ja Wilson fouled her on a baseline jump shot.
If Malonga can bring that kind of energy in the playoffs, the series may not be an easy win for the Aces, as many expect given Las Vegas’ hot streak. However, Malonga is very young and inexperienced compared to most other key players in the series.