ESPN crowns surprising rookie as a leader of the pack
Dominique Malonga is one of the most exciting rookies in the WNBA right now — and the fourth most powerful player under age 25 in the league. That’s the word from ESPN, who ranked the French superstar, who was drafted as the No. 2 overall pick this year, fourth on their list of the best 25 players under 25.
More: Storm’s Dominique Malonga is youngest player in WNBA history with points-rebounds stats record
While Wings star and UConn graduate was as lock for the second spot on the list (and the Fever’s Caitlin Clark was number one), Malonga emerged as a somewhat surprising pick over fellow rookies Sonia Citron (No. 6) and Kiki Iriafen (No. 10).
Malonga is averaging 13.5 PPG and 7.4 RPG on 60% shooting, and her “athleticism allows her to make plays no other player her size can make, and she also displays incredible touch as a shooter,” writes the outlet’s Kevin Pelton.
ESPN also pointed out that if Malonga were American, she’d only been in her second season of college right now — a reality that makes her WNBA stats all the more impressive. Malonga has consistently proven her ceiling is sky-high, and it sounds like everyone else is starting to notice.
