Dominique Malonga is one of the youngest prospects in this year’s WNBA Draft class. At just 19 years old, she is predicted to be the second pick in this year’s draft.
She also made history during this past Olympics as the youngest player to play on the French national team at 18 years old. But where did the phenom get her start in basketball? Let’s go further in depth about her roots.
Who Are Dominique Malonga’s Parents?
Malonga was born in Cameroon on Nov 16, 2005, to parents Thalance Malonga and Agathe N’Nindjem-Yolemp. Both of her parents are former basketball players.
She started her journey as a basketball player at the same academy where her mother once played as a center. The last team that her mother played for was Basket Catalan Perpignan Méditerranée in the French NF3 circuit. During her mother’s career as a basketball player, she also represented the Cameroon national team.
Thalance, her father, is also a former basketball player. During his career as an athlete, he was a member of the Republic of Congo’s national team. After his career as a basketball player, he made a career switch to practice medicine. Along with his career as a doctor, he has been involved in advisory roles in government. Currently, he serves as an advisor to the President of the Republic of Congo.
More About Malonga
She is the youngest player in this year’s draft class. She might be young, but WNBA teams have been scouting her for years. She has made history as a basketball player by being the youngest member of the French national team. During the Olympics, she also participated in all of the group games and helped France bring home a silver medal.
Malonga is a highly sought-after prospect. Some teams that are projected to draft her include the Seattle Storm and Washington Mystics, and she could possibly be picked up by the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA’s new expansion team. Malonga has the potential to be a player who brings an immediate impact to whichever team she gets drafted to.
However, many WNBA teams have a history of drafting overseas players and retaining their rights, but sometimes they never even see the floor for their respective teams. Although Malonga is a player from overseas, it is more likely that we will see her get action within her first season as a player in the WNBA. Malonga is seen as a player who will be of great significance wherever she ends up playing.
The 2025 WNBA Draft will take place on April 14, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. ET and can be streamed on ESPN.