Who Is Dominique Malonga?Dominique Malonga (Photo by Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
Since Victor Wembanyama took the NBA world by storm as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 Draft, French basketball has been enjoying a golden age. Now, that wave of talent is reaching the WNBA, and 19-year-old Dominique Malonga is leading the charge.

The Seattle Storm selected Malonga No. 2 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft. The rookie star is already drawing comparisons to Wembanyama for her size, athleticism, versatility, and global impact.

Much like Wembanyama, the 6.6″ Seattle star brings a rare mix of size and agility to the court. A standout center for Lyon ASVEL in France’s top league, she averaged 15.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.2 steals this season.

Malonga’s dominance extended to international competition as well. She led her team in the EuroCup Women’s tournament, posting 18.5 points and 11 rebounds per game. In a historic moment last fall, she became the first French female player to dunk in a professional game.

Dominique Malonga Honors France’s Basketball Evolution In Emotional Draft Message

Who Is Dominique Malonga?Dominique Malonga (Photo by Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
After being drafted by the Storm, Malonga shared a heartfelt message. She proudly spoke about the growing recognition of French talent across the basketball world. She also highlighted the rising influence of female athletes from her country.

“I am so proud to achieve that goal because it just shows that French basketball has evolved, as we’ve seen the past few years on the NBA side. We see Wemby or Zaccharie Risacher that show that French basketball is great, and now with the women, so me, it just shows that it’s not only men French players, it’s also women. It’s just French basketball in general,” Malonga said.

Malonga’s international experience goes beyond club play. Malonga was part of France’s silver-medal-winning squad at the 2024 Olympics. In the Olympics, she was even the youngest on the roster.