France's teen sensation Dominique Malonga ready to dunk on WNBA
Dominique Malonga was taken second by the Seattle Storm. PHOTO: REUTERS
– A 1.98m teenage dunking sensation out of France is ready to take the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) by storm, as second overall draft pick Dominique Malonga brings experience well beyond her years to Seattle.
The 19-year-old is known as the 'female Wembanyama' – after compatriot and National Basketball Association star Victor Wembanyama for her distinctive size and athleticism, and is on her way to becoming a fan favourite even before the Seattle Storm's May 17 season tip-off.
'Dominique is well beyond her years when it comes to being a pro. She catches on to things very quickly. She asks the right questions,' said veteran Nneka Ogwumike, the 2016 league Most Valuable Player.
'I'm very grateful that we have her here, especially because she dunks and I don't want get dunked on.'
She has wasted no time showing off that signature skill, dunking in her first practice with the team in footage that quickly picked up momentum on social media.
Despite her youth, Malonga already has the advantage of four years of professional experience playing in Europe, though she told reporters the new league would take some adjustment.
'There is a huge difference I would say in the pace. The game is so fast here and I need to really adapt to that. But that's also what I like because I love to run, to run the floor and that's also where I feel that I fit to this game,' she said.
Malonga, who helped France to silver as the youngest player on her national team at the Paris Olympics, said that playing in high-level games at a young age would make her an asset in the WNBA, where rookies are typically 21 or older.
One of those older rookies is Paige Bueckers, 23, the only player picked ahead of Malonga.
Asked on May 8 what she is enjoyed most about being a member of the Dallas Wings, Bueckers said the easy answer was 'everything'.
'Just the people here. Coach Chris (Koclanes) talked about how obviously finding success is important, but you want to find great people first,' Bueckers said during a conference call.
'I think they've done a great job from top to bottom finding people who are easy to work with, easy to work for.'
Bueckers is gearing up for the start of her WNBA career, which officially begins May 16 when the Wings host none other than Bueckers' hometown team, the Minnesota Lynx, on opening night.
The University of Connecticut star and No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft could play a major role in revitalising a Dallas franchise that missed the play-offs in 2024 with a 9-31 record.
Bueckers said the city and franchise have been welcoming in the few short weeks she has been in town since being drafted on April 15.
Bueckers and Malonga will hope to have an impact similar to their 2024 draft class predecessors Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark.
Twenty-two regular-season games eclipsed 1 million viewers in 2024. One game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky, pitting Clark against her college rival Reese, was the WNBA's most-watched game in 23 years at 2.25 million; their rematch the next week attracted 2.3 million.
Clark and Reese only accelerated the popularity of a league that has been steadily growing since the turn of the decade. REUTERS
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