By Sandy Connors | Photo courtesy: Seattle Storm

Dominique Malonga, the 6-foot-6 center selected No. 2 overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2025 WNBA Draft, is already drawing comparisons to the league’s elite. At just 19 years old, Malonga is viewed by league executives as a future cornerstone of the WNBA. In the annual WNBA General Manager survey, most GMs named Malonga the rookie most likely to become the best player in the league in five years.

From Cameroon to the WNBA

Born in Cameroon, Dominique Malonga moved to Paris at 10 and quickly began making a name for herself on the French basketball scene. She turned professional at just 15 and signed with ASVEL in 2021—a club owned by NBA legend Tony Parker. Her meteoric rise through the European ranks was marked by dominant performances, a rapidly developing skill set, and an incredibly rare physical profile.

Tony Parker once called her “the female version of Victor Wembanyama,” a comparison fueled by their shared traits: elite length, agility, and skill at an uncommon size. Both players have redefined what’s possible at their respective positions, but Malonga remains focused on carving her own path. “I want to be known for my game, not his,” she told reporters.

Draft Day: A Strategic Steal for Seattle

The Seattle Storm selected Malonga with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, acquiring the pick in a blockbuster multi-team trade involving stars Jewell Loyd and Kelsey Plum. The move signaled a major reset for the Storm—and a long-term investment in Malonga as their centerpiece for the future.

Seattle’s front office saw something special in Malonga and wasn’t alone. Her name was at the top of nearly every draft board, with coaches and executives raving about her two-way potential. Her combination of size, skill, and poise is exceptionally rare, and she’s already showing flashes of dominance in training camp and early preseason action.

Dominating Both Ends of the Floor

Malonga’s versatility is her greatest asset. Defensively, she’s a game-changer—blocking shots, altering opponents’ strategies in the paint, and switching onto smaller players without hesitation. Offensively, she’s developing into a complete threat. With soft hands, a reliable mid-range jumper, and a growing post-game, Malonga gives Seattle an immediate interior presence.

Her athleticism and court vision also allow her to run the floor like a guard, making her a dangerous weapon in transition. While she’s still adjusting to the pace of the WNBA, her learning curve is steep—and so is her ceiling.

A Star in the Making

Dominique Malonga is more than just a top draft pick—she’s the face of the future for the Seattle Storm and potentially the WNBA. With a maturity beyond her years, elite physical gifts, and a relentless drive to improve, it’s no wonder league insiders are so high on her.

If the early buzz is any indication, Dominique Malonga isn’t just meeting expectations—she’s already exceeding them.

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