The Seattle Storm have suddenly forgotten how to win. After being among the contenders till their 27th game, they slid into a five-game losing streak and now stand on a 0.500 record. It’s not like they are not competing, as their losses have been with less than 5 points, but their final punch has disappeared into thin air. “Having these performances and not coming away with victories or wins, it is deflating.” Coach Noell Quinn said after they ended up on the wrong side for the fifth consecutive time against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Even in these losses, the Storm does have a silver lining in this bleak patch. Their No.2 draft pick, Dominique Malonga, has made it a point to not have her name be just a footnote among this year’s best talents. Being paired up against A’ja Wilson, arguably the best player in the league, she scored a career-high 22 points on 8 of 11 shooting from the floor and grabbed 12 rebounds. Building on her personal milestones, Dominique Malonga delivered a standout performance against the Sparks, pouring in 20 points on an ultra-efficient 9-of-11 shooting and snatching 11 rebounds. She became the youngest player to record 20+ points and 10+ rebounds in back-to-back games, and the WNBA is taking notice.
ION Analyst Autumn Johnson said while piling praise on Malonga, “I know we keep talking about Paige Bueckers, which I feel like she has that in the bag for rookie of the year, and Kiki Iriafen, Sonia Citron, and Dominique Malonga, is like, hold up, at least talk about me. I’m still here.”
When Malonga came up on the scene as the No.2 pick for Seattle, many questioned their pick. Yes, the 19-year-old was a phenom, and her thundering dunks had everyone naming her “the female Wemby”. The same question remained: was it too early? Malonga is proving she was ready for this, and the doubts have vanished. Johnson further declared that the Storm made the right decision in bringing a relatively unknown teenager.
She said, “I think she was the steal of the draft. I’m gonna hold everything to that. Like I really, really feel like at number two, even though she was so high up there at 19 years old, no one saw that coming. And I think with the Seattle Storm, they made a great move.”
This is not exactly a new take. ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike actually made the case for Malonga as the No.2 pick behind Paige Bueckers during an April 10 segment on ESPN. “I’m going to tell you who is going to be the steal of the draft: A 6’6″, 19-year-old French post player by the name of Dominique Malonga,” Ogwumike said.
However, the talk had died down after she failed to get any significant minutes. It was hardly a surprise, after all, the players in front of her, Ezi Magbegor and Nneka Ogwumike, are world-class starters and undeniable elite talent. Malonga has pushed for more time, and she has shown in the recent games exactly why she was so highly rated. A couple of bright games are fine, but many rookies are better than her in the eyes of fans, and Johnson’s partner on the podcast pointed out that Malonga has a higher ceiling than any while referring to a preseason survey.
Jordan Robinson said on the podcast, “ I go back to that unanimous GM survey that came out at the beginning of the year. Even though they had Paige Buecker’s prediction as winning rookie of the year, they said who’s going to have the best overall career, they chose Dominique Malonga. And I always pinpoint that because of the upside is so high for what she can be able to do. And you see just the raw athleticism.”
“Who will win the 2025 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year?” The question read, and the first name out of the GM’s mouth was Paige Bueckers. It was not without reason, as the UConn graduate had just won the nationals as the unanimous best player in the college circuit. 73% of them voted for Bueckers while 18% went for Malonga. However, when it came to thinking long-term, Malonga had a higher ceiling according to them, as 60% had Malonga being a better player in 5 years.
Her 6’6″ frame with elite length, mobility, and explosiveness makes her a unique prospect in the age of playing from the outside. She moves like a guard, finishes above the rim, and can hit some jumpers from downtown. While that has not translated in the WNBA yet, it is there in the locker room. Over her last eight games, she is averaging 13.2 points and eight rebounds while shooting 63% from the floor in 21 minutes per game. While still rough at the edges, she is a diamond who will shine even brighter as the years roll on.
Time Is Malonga’s Ally, While Injuries Threaten Bueckers’ Longevity
It’s easy to forget Malonga is only 19 as compared to Bueckers’ 23. However, that is not the only 4 years the Dallas rookie has to go up against. She has had her development in the gruelling college circuit, while Malonga has not. That is evident in how they currently play. Bueckers is the torch bearer of Dallas, while Malonga is still finding her way in the Seattle starting spot. As Johnson said, she has the Rookie of the Year in her grasp with her current numbers.
Aug 8, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Seattle Storm center Dominique Malonga (14) attempts to score a layup against Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
In the long term, Malonga is rated as the better prospect. One big reason is Malonga’s age. Bueckers can become the best guard in the league, but her body might not support her for the long run. It’s only her rookie season, and she is already missing back-to-back games citing rest. Not that it’s unnecessary, as she has been dealing with patellar tendonitis since high school. Bueckers has mentioned, “And it is, in a sense of you’re managing it, at all times.”
Her college injury history with a tibial plateau fracture and meniscus tear in 2021, followed by an ACL tear in 2022, adds to those doubts. “My only concerns with Paige are physical. If she can stay healthy, I think she’s an All-Star level talent. She can play with or without the ball, which makes her super valuable,” a general manager said to The Athletic before the draft.
Bueckers will likely need that management throughout her career, and it will only get worse with age. With teams being added to the league, the number of games will only increase. Her ability could also be impacted as time goes on, while Malonga has no such issue. Injuries can happen to anyone, including Malonga. But a chronic condition hampers Bueckers and her chances of having a long career. Currently, Malonga has better cards to completely capitalise on her generational talent.
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