A 25-point loss wasn’t the way the Storm wanted to start the playoffs. The Aces were difficult to stop, though, and secured a 45-25 lead at the half. It was a disappointing outing for a Storm team that features four All-Stars.
Nevertheless, the loss came with one promising silver lining. Rookie Dominique Malonga gained valuable playoff experience and managed to play through some early struggles. While the Storm may not find much success in the playoffs this year, they have a future superstar in Malonga, and the experience she gathered against the Aces will be invaluable in the future.
Malonga had a hard time in her playoff debut
Dominique Malonga finished her first playoff game with 12 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, two steals, and 1 block. She became the first teenager in WNBA history to record a double-double in the playoffs.
Nothing came easy for Malonga, though. She shot 4-11 from the field, sinking two threes and two 2-point field goals. Most of those buckets came in the second half. In the first half, Malonga struggled—as can be expected from a 19-year-old rookie who has to go up against A’ja Wilson in her first playoff series.
Malonga struggled to guard Wilson when she found herself matched up with the superstars. Offensively, she also struggled at first, missing layups and put-backs and getting some shots blocked.
Malonga will get better with more experience
Malonga was huge for the Storm off the bench to close out the regular season, showcasing her potential to the entire league. She improved immensely in just a matter of months, gaining confidence and experience. Competing in the playoffs as a rookie will only help her develop even further.
The Storm hope to get a win with Malonga’s help. After the game, Noelle Quinn said, “It was good to see her [Malonga] settle into the game in the second half because we’re going to need that effort on Tuesday.” However, Malonga’s playoff debut says more about her future potential than the Storm’s chances of beating the Aces anytime soon.
Malonga’s regular-season production may pale in comparison to that of fellow rookies Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, and Kiki Iriafen, but she is the only one out of that group to compete in the playoffs. She is also much younger and just scratching the surface of her potential.
At the beginning of the season, 60% of GMs voted for Malonga when asked which rookie would be the best player in five years in the annual GM survey. Bueckers, Citron, and Iriafen will certainly have something to say about that, but Malonga is building the foundation for a successful WNBA career.