The Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever met Sunday in a crucial battle between two 16-12 teams fighting for playoff positioning. With Caitlin Clark sidelined once again for Indiana, the spotlight quickly shifted to Storm rookie Dominique Malonga, who was about to make WNBA history spectacularly.
How Did Dominique Malonga Make WNBA History at Just 19?
The French phenom achieved something no teenager had ever accomplished in the WNBA. Malonga became the youngest player in WNBA history to reach 100 career points and 100 rebounds, hitting both milestones in just 27 games.
The record-breaking moment came after she had already reached 100 points on July 24 against the Chicago Sky, where she posted 14 points and 10 rebounds for her first career double-double. Sunday’s performance against Indiana officially put her in the history books.
Dominique Malonga is the youngest player in WNBA history to reach 100 PTS & 100 REB. pic.twitter.com/R8zWPjiUj7
— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) August 3, 2025
Her season numbers tell the story of a player still finding her rhythm. Malonga averages 5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 0.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the floor. However, the 6-foot-6 Cameroonian native continues to flash the potential that made her the No. 2 overall pick, showing her skill and athleticism in key moments.
While Malonga might not yet be a household name across the league, performances like Sunday’s are quickly changing that narrative.
What Does Malonga’s Success Mean for French Basketball?
When WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert called Dominique Malonga’s name as the second overall pick, she stood out in her classic black outfit and LV blazer. Now, the rookie is backing up that draft position with her play on the court.
Malonga takes pride in representing France on basketball’s biggest stages, especially as French players make their mark across professional basketball. While Victor Wembanyama and Zaccharie Risacher showcase French talent in the NBA, Malonga is flying the flag for women’s basketball.
“I am so proud to achieve that goal because it just shows that French basketball has evolved, as we’ve seen the past few years on the NBA side. We see Wemby or Zaccharie Risacher who show that French basketball is great, and now with the women, so me, it just shows that it’s not only men French players, it’s also women. It’s just French basketball in general,” Malonga said upon getting drafted.
She continued, “I’m so proud just to show that today French basketball is at a level that we have never seen.”
Last fall, Malonga became the first French female player to dunk in a game after winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics. Her international experience has been crucial to her development, giving her the confidence to compete at the WNBA level.
“You all watched it and you could see that the games were, every game was tight. We could see great players that evolve in this league, so of course it was like high-level teams,” Malonga explained about her FIBA experience.
ROOK SHOWIN’ SHE BELONGS 💪
Dominique Malonga with the tough floater to open up action in the 2Q!
IND–SEA | ABC pic.twitter.com/JeRL1ymPIV
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 3, 2025
That international competition helped shape the player Seattle fans are watching today. The Storm already boasted a veteran core with nine-time All-Star Nneka Ogwumike, three-time champion Alysha Clark, and six-time All-Star guard Skylar Diggins-Smith. Adding Malonga’s youth and potential to this experienced group shows the front office’s commitment to both present success and future growth.
As the teenager continues to seize her opportunities, the basketball world will be watching to see what other records she might break before her rookie season ends.
