What are Realistic Expectations For Seattle Storm Rookie Dominique Malonga?
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="3141"]
The Seattle Storm selected France’s Dominique Malonga second overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, the best talent available with that pick. Credit: Estevoaei [/caption]
Dominique Malonga might become one of the WNBA’s most popular players because she can dunk, but that won’t be how she changes the direction of the Seattle Storm franchise. Her unique blend of size, length and well-rounded skills are what could put her among the league’s superstars.
At just 19 years old, Malonga, the No. 2 overall pick in Monday’s draft, has a more advanced game than many draft picks three-to-four years older than her. The physical attributes (6-foot-6 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan) really stand out, but it’s how she’s melded those traits with a complete set of basketball skills that made her a strong candidate to upset UConn’s Paige Bueckers as the No. 1 overall pick.
Malonga, of course, fell to Seattle with the second pick anyway — the first step in what could be a legendary WNBA career. Considering Bueckers will be 24 in October, all we can do is check back a decade from now to see which was the better selection.
What should the Storm expect from Malonga in her rookie season? Should she be expected to be an immediate, full-time starter, or is it better to ease her into a larger role?
Just because she can, doesn’t mean she should
Malonga likely could handle — and excel — in a full-time starting role from, the jump. She already has four years of professional basketball experience in France’s top women’s league, averaging 15.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals per game.
But the Storm have front court depth, albeit comprised of veterans. The backcourt was the more pressing need entering the draft, but the Storm hoped they made the right move by drafting the best talent available.
A starting lineup that includes Ezi Magbegor and Malonga is enticing but unnecessary from Day 1. Nneka Ogwumike is still on the team and played at a high level in 2024. Gabby Williams should be available for a full season at small forward for the first time since 2022. Seattle can allow Malonga to come off the bench as the sixth player, at least early in the season, and still log around 20 minutes per game.
With that amount of time on the court, Malonga should be able to at least average around 7 points and 4 rebounds per game. If she does become a starter later in the season, those numbers could rise to around 10 points and 6 rebounds. That would be right on pace with where Malonga should be in a crowded front court.
Remember: Seattle also has Alysha Clark and Katie Lou Samuelson on unprotected contracts. If either of those two are waived so the Storm can retain an extra one of its third-round picks, Malonga’s role could expand more rapidly. That is a possibility as the team needs guards it can develop, getting lucky with Serena Sundell still being on the board at No. 26.
If she does become a starter for most of the season, there’s no reason not to expect Malonga to compete with Bueckers for Rookie of the Year. At the very least, she should be landing on the All-Rookie Team.
What will be interesting to watch is how much Malonga is used on the perimeter. She only attempted 38 3-point field goals at a 28.9 percent clip with ASVEL during the 2024–25 season, but it’s a skill Malonga will almost certainly focus on developing at the WNBA level. Expect most of her offensive production to come from the mid-range and rim areas, at least early on.
The Storm’s 2025 draft class turned out exactly how it wanted. They acquired potentially a generational talent while securing guard prospects they can evaluate in training camp. It’s hard to see a glaring hole remaining on the roster, but it’s also questionable how it will all fit together in Year 1. The team’s veterans are set to carry the load once again before likely giving way to the younger stars moving forward into 2026.
Malonga has high expectations to meet, and rightfully so. She’s a player unlike the WNBA has seen, which is why the comparison has been drawn to the NBA’s Victor Wembanyama, who is also French. For now, however, leave those comparisons in your head — allow Malonga to forge her legacy beginning on May 17.
