When the Seattle Storm traded Jewell Loyd away for the No. 2 Total decide within the 2025 WNBA Draft, they knew it was as a result of they may get a superb participant. Not simply glorious, however a generational franchise participant to guide them into their subsequent chapter. Whereas Paige Bueckers was the unanimous No. 1 total decide this 12 months, it turned clear within the weeks main as much as the draft that the presumed No. 2 decide may additionally be a traditionally good participant.
It began when Olivia Miles determined to return for an additional 12 months in school as an alternative of declare for the draft. Within the fallout of that, Dominique Malonga’s identify was tossed into the second spot within the draft after floating within the high 5 all 12 months. As soon as individuals began really diving deeper into Malonga as a prospect… it was just about sure that Seattle wouldn’t miss out on the possibility to select her up.
Now the best drafted participant to ever come out of France, Malonga could also be among the best gamers to enter the WNBA in years — simply from a foundation of being league-ready. In latest very guard heavy drafts, she definitely has a case to be the very best entrance courtroom participant to be drafted in latest historical past. Even when Miles had determined to enter the draft, there may be proof to recommend that Malonga would have most likely gone No. 2 anyway.
A silver medalist on the Paris 2024 Olympics, Malonga is simply 19 years previous and has been enjoying professionally in Europe since 2021. French basketball leagues are beginning to rise in degree of expertise — take into consideration all the NBA expertise France has produced lately. Not solely does she have that have enjoying towards high-level competitors within the EuroLeague, however her bodily measurements alone soar off the web page.
Malonga is 6’6” tall and has a 7’1” wingspan, with giant fingers to match her top. She will be able to dunk the ball in a method that makes it look straightforward, and continuously does so throughout video games. Not solely does she have the talents of a put up participant — rebounding, put up scoring, and rim safety — however she will additionally deal with the basketball in addition to shoot from past the three-point line. At 19 years previous, she not solely has immense potential, however the tried expertise to show she might be a star. She’s additionally the youngest individual to ever be drafted into the WNBA.
Went to look at Dominique Malonga — the No. 2 decide within the WNBA Draft — work out in NYC. Blown away by how proficient she is. 6’6, 7’1 wingspan, enormous fingers. Dunks with ease. Makes NBA-range pullup 3s effortlessly. Solely 19 years previous. The Seattle Storm obtained one. pic.twitter.com/boLNV49uQ1
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 15, 2025
Her potential with the Storm particularly is immense. Seattle is understood to take possibilities on worldwide expertise, together with with their present entrance courtroom path blazer Ezi Magbegor, drafted in 2019 out of Australia. The concept of pairing Magbegor (25 years previous) with Malonga (19) for a lot of years in Seattle must be scary to different groups. Each are gamers with immense versatility, and if Malonga can function and defend from wherever on the ground whereas Magbegor dominates within the put up, then Seattle goes to be harmful.
Malonga is a testomony to European basketball, the place younger gamers should not taught about conventional positioned basketball. Every participant, irrespective of your top, is put by way of guard, wing, and put up drills all collectively. No matter place, gamers discover ways to deal with the ball at a younger age in Europe, with positional confines hardly ever enforced in youth basketball. As soon as gamers begin enjoying professionally or at the next degree, they then begin to be skilled particularly in these niched positions, however they nonetheless have retained all these different expertise.
The consequence has been a surge of distinctive and versatile European gamers, particularly the tall ones. Once you’re a 6’6” ladies’s participant like Malonga or a 7’3” males’s participant like Victor Wembanyama, and may work beneath the ring, but additionally function like a guard? Properly, you might have critical MVP potential.
When you think about that Loyd actively needed out of Seattle, and the Storm not solely traded the six-time All-Star to her most well-liked vacation spot, however had been additionally in a position to safe the longer term for themselves, the one conclusion is that it’s an excellent commerce for them. Malonga is just not solely a draft steal, even at No.2, but additionally a franchise cornerstone who can affect this group for a few years to return.
In years to return, once we look again at this draft class, after all Bueckers may have had a big impact on the league. But Malonga, too, will doubtless find yourself as an exceptional star that defines the 2025 draft.