Dominique Malonga’s first WNBA All-Star selection arrived with the kind of season that can change the mood around a franchise. At 20 years old, the Seattle Storm center has gone from the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft to one of the clearest reasons for optimism in a difficult year for Seattle.
Malonga was selected as a reserve for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago and then backed up the honor with 12 points and 13 rebounds in the game. For a player that young, the recognition matters almost as much as the production. It confirmed that her rise has not just been about promise, but about real impact.
Why the Storm have something to build on
Seattle’s season has been defined by a mounting loss total, but the team has also leaned into giving young players major opportunities. That has created some rough nights, including the Storm’s 84-82 loss to the Portland Fire on Aug. 14, but it has also helped reveal who can be part of the long-term picture.
Malonga has been at the center of that evaluation. Over a recent stretch, she put together 31 points and 10 rebounds against the New York Liberty on Aug. 5, then followed it with 26 points and 10 rebounds against the Chicago Sky on Aug. 10. She added 19 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks against Chicago on Aug. 16. Those numbers show a player who is not just surviving increased responsibility, but thriving in it.
For Seattle, that is the encouraging part. The standings have not gone the Storm’s way, but the close losses and the steady growth from young players have shown fight. Malonga’s breakout gives the franchise a centerpiece to point to as it looks ahead.
A 20-year-old already making history
It is rare for a player to become an All-Star at 20, and that alone makes Malonga’s season notable. The fact that she is already producing at this level after being selected second overall only strengthens the case that Seattle found a major piece in the 2025 draft.
The All-Star Game itself offered a final snapshot of why she matters. Malonga finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds in Chicago, a reminder that her game travels well and that her presence around the basket can influence big moments, not just regular-season stretches.
For the Storm, the path forward still requires patience. But Malonga’s rise gives the organization something more concrete than hope. It gives them evidence.
The AWA FAM feeling around Seattle is simple enough: the Storm have found a young player already good enough to be an All-Star, and that changes the conversation about what comes next.
