Nationwide — Dominique Malonga, a 19-year-old Black teen from France, has made historical past because the youngest participant ever drafted by the WNBA. The Seattle Storm picked her second total, making her one of many league’s latest stars.
At 6-foot-6, Malonga first gained consideration three years in the past when movies of her dunking throughout follow went viral. In October, she grew to become the primary French girl to dunk in a sport.
Malonga was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and moved to France at a younger age. At 15, she joined Tony Parker’s ASVEL Féminin group. Parker nicknamed her the “Feminine Wemby,” evaluating her to fellow French basketball star Victor Wembanyama.
This season, Malonga averaged 15.4 factors, 10.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists for Lyon ASVEL Féminin. She additionally led her group within the EuroCup Ladies’s competitors, averaging 18.5 factors and 11 rebounds per sport.
After the draft, Malonga mentioned she felt proud to symbolize French basketball on a worldwide stage. “I used to be so proud to realize that objective. It simply confirmed that French basketball has developed as we see in these previous few years within the NBA facet,” Malonga mentioned, in line with The Seattle Instances.
Though Malonga’s debut with the Storm is unsure as a result of her commitments in France, Seattle is raring to have her be a part of as soon as her season ends. Normal Supervisor Talisa Rhea shared that the group is ready for the method and appears ahead to welcoming her.
Malonga is the Storm’s highest draft decide since Breanna Stewart in 2016. She turns into the fifth worldwide participant to be chosen within the prime two of the WNBA draft. She turns 20 in November, assembly the age requirement for worldwide gamers.
After being drafted, Malonga shared an emotional second along with her household. She hugged her mom first, saying, “It was symbolic to go to her first as a result of she is likely one of the most vital individual of my life. She is likely one of the motive that I’m right here at this time, and I actually wished to point out that.”
“And naturally, my household, my dad, my brothers and my sister, they’re all the things to me,” she added. “They’re the explanation that I’m right here at this time, and my motivation of on daily basis. So, you can see that there was plenty of emotion between us. I’m so proud and completely satisfied to have been in a position to carry them right here at this time.”
