The Seattle Storm’s rookie center, Dominique Malonga, may not have had the hype of some of her draft classmates like Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, or Kiki Iriafen, but in just a few months, she has forced the league to pay attention. Now, her teammates and two of the WNBA’s most respected veterans, Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins, have gone on record with glowing praise that underscores just how bright Malonga’s future looks.
Why Do Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins Think Dominique Malonga Has Superstar Potential?
When seasoned veterans start raving about a rookie, it signals that the player has something truly special. That’s exactly what’s happening with Malonga, a French star with an Olympic silver medal.
Ogwumike, a WNBA champion and one of the league’s most respected voices, highlighted how quickly Malonga is learning the professional game.
“She is a very smart person, a very smart player,” Ogwumike said to RG. “You can tell that she soaks everything in, and she wants to go out and do the right thing. Every day is some level of improvement or some level of evolution. … It’s about the process of development with her, and she’s locked into that.”
Dominique Malonga (Storm) over 11.5 points (-135 DraftKings)
\* hit in 10/L13 with 15+ minutes
\* averaging 13.9 points in that span
\* malonga is the storms latest rookie with significant potential and upside to be a future all star. she is finally getting more minutes as… pic.twitter.com/eFfc2TRBj4
— Underdog Sports Analytics (@UnderdogSA1) August 26, 2025
Diggins, a seven-time All-Star guard and one of the most experienced voices in Seattle’s locker room, echoed that sentiment but took it even further. To her, Malonga is on the path to becoming a cornerstone of the league itself.
“She knows her strengths, and what I see is her being more physical in the paint, taking her time, understanding that there’s nothing they can do with her when she decides,” Diggins said.
“She’s literally just scratching the surface. I tell her all the time, she’s going to be a star for the next 20 years in this league. She doesn’t have a ceiling. … I love her approach and her attitude. To see her growth this year has been special.”
“she’s gonna be a star for the next 20 years, she doesn’t have a ceiling… she’s an all-star in her own right, in her role for us… i love playing with her, and i love to see her thrive” skylar diggins about rookie dominique malonga 🥰 pic.twitter.com/PBYAzPzY4M
— substack hater (@ezimagbegoat) August 21, 2025
Diggins also noted that Malonga’s contributions have been invaluable, even behind All-Star teammates.
“She’s playing behind two All-Stars, and she’s an All-Star in her own right in her role for us. We need what she brings to the table.”
Such endorsement from two veterans, who have seen nearly every kind of talent pass through the WNBA, speaks volumes. For Seattle, it validates their bold decision to move on from longtime star Jewell Loyd in order to draft Malonga second overall in 2025.
How Is Malonga Embracing Veteran Guidance?
For Malonga, the respect from her teammates means more than the box score. Over her last 10 games, she has averaged 13.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, and one block, often providing momentum-shifting plays with her length, speed, and rim protection. However, she insists her growth is directly tied to learning from veterans around her.
“I’m learning from them every day just by watching how they work, their discipline, their work ethic, and how well they know the game,” Malonga told RG. “I see them studying film, talking about what happened in the game, and preparing the right way. I can always go to them with questions, and they give me advice. Honestly, I’m blessed to be around these kinds of players. Even without talking, just watching them teaches me a lot.”
That humility and hunger to learn are part of why her teammates believe she’s destined for greatness.
So far, Seattle’s gamble on youth looks smarter by the day. They traded away franchise icon Loyd to secure the second overall pick in the 2025 draft, banking on Malonga as the centerpiece of a new era. She has come off the bench for most of the 2024-25 campaign, but her impact is undeniable.
Nneka Ogwumike & Dominique Malonga are proving to be a DYNAMIC VET-ROOKIE duo🔥
Nneka is not slowing down at all, as she is having her BEST SEASON EVER SCORING-WISE with a career high 697 points and counting.
Dominique Malonga on the other hand is proving to be a reliable… pic.twitter.com/gIjiGXGS3b
— AfroBallers (@afroballers) August 26, 2025
Early returns show that gamble is paying off. At 6’6″ with a 7’1″ wingspan, she already creates matchup nightmares. Her ability to protect the rim, finish in transition, and score efficiently has given Seattle an inside presence that can anchor their future.
Her 22-point, nine-rebound, three-block performance against the Dallas Wings was just the latest reminder that her ceiling is nowhere in sight. In the same game, thanks to Malonga’s elite scoring, Seattle’s bench outscored the Wings’ entire roster, underscoring the impact of its depth.
Moreover, she recently became the first rookie in league history to post back-to-back 20-point, 10-rebound games while shooting 70%, displaying her steady growth.
Seattle is fighting for playoff positioning and has benefited from her spark off the bench. ESPN projects them at over 95% playoff odds. Whether starting or not, Malonga’s impact is undeniable.
Malonga’s energy off the bench has been one of the difference-makers during Seattle’s climb. In fact, with her consistent scoring, rebounding, and defensive presence, she’s making a strong case for WNBA Sixth Player of the Year, an honor that would underline just how quickly she’s established herself as a force in the league.
For Seattle, the message from Ogwumike and Diggins is clear: she’s a cornerstone, a potential superstar, and possibly the player who defines the Storm’s next 20 years. It looks like Seattle has found a foundational piece, one who’s already drawing comparisons to the best and earning respect from legends.
