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7:51 p.m. New York time, six hours later in France, it's official: Dominique Malonga (1.97 m, 19) is now a WNBA player. The tricolor pivot was selected in second position of the Draft 2025 by the Seattle Storm, behind the inevitable Paige Bueckers which goes in n ° 1 to Dallas. A place that had been announced to him for weeks, since the plans of two competitors (Olivia Miles et Azzi benefit), who chose to stay in NCAA.
An accomplishment
Before that, it was planned between 3rd and 5th place. The fault mainly in the uncertainties as to its participation each summer in the American League, in view of its calendar in the French team and in club. Because in terms of potential, WNBA – and female basketball – have rarely seen a prospect as talented as Dominique Malonga. Since his 16 years and his first dunks filmed by his agency (those in match came later), a media phenomenon was born. Its seasons with ASVEL (more than 15 points and 10 rebounds on average this season in LBWL) and Tarbes only reinforced the hype.
The WNBA, of which she has always dreamed, could not miss. It is therefore logically that the Seattle Storm, which recovered the second choice from the lottery despite its 5th position in the classification last season, selected the native of Yaoundé (Cameroon). “Fiba basketball made me tenacious … I can't wait to play on WnBa's parquet floors to show that European basketball can prepare us” she explained.
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She will notably team up with Gabby Williams (1.80 m, 28 years old), who re-signed for a 4th season on the northwest tip of the United States. The two tricolors will form a tandem on the 3-5 posts which has everything to function, as it has already done in the France team and at ASVEL (2022/23). Malonga will above all have a mentor to help him discover gently the peculiarities of the American League. She will also be able to learn from the other pivot of the workforce Good managogorjust crowned European champion with Prague, with a similar physical profile. The Storm is a quadruple WNBA champion franchise (2004, 2010, 2018, 2020) which has players formed.
With the second overall pick in the WNBA Draft, the Seattle Storm select Dominique Malonga 🇫🇷⛈️
Welcome to Seattle, Dominique! pic.twitter.com/dODsN5gkmT
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) April 14, 2025
A first since 1997
As for what this represents for French basketball, it is a new talent that is exporting on the side of the United States. In recent years, they have multiplied. Carla Leite (1.75 m, 20 years old) and Leïla Lacan (1.80 m, 20 years old) were selected in n ° 9 and 10 last season, Lou Lopez Sénéchal in n ° 5 in 2023, Iliana Rupert (1.94 m, 23 years old) in n ° 12 in 2021… not to mention those who will try to make a place outside the draft process, as Janelle Salaün (1.88 m, 23 years old) or Badiane Marime (1,90 m, 30 ans).
In the meantime, her big debut in a league where she has everything to flourish are expected this summer. In any case after the Asvel playoffs, which must play basketball Landes in quarters. And before a break for Eurobasket at the end of June. What give it a taste of future calendar overlapping puzzles that await it in the future …
“It represents a lot for me (to be selected in n ° 2). We talk a lot about the expansion of French basketball, we have seen that in boys, and it really materializes with girls too. It shows that it is France in general. I am very happy, it is deserved because the work I provided is indescribable, it paid. I am really proud to represent my country in the best way, and to show that French basketball is at an never seen level. »»
Dominique Malonga at a post-draft press conference
1 minute of Dominique Malonga doing freakish stuff creating for herself as a driver pic.twitter.com/E5hVbDWA35
— Hunter Cruse (@HunterCruse14) April 8, 2025
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