Scoring 22 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks against the Wings, Dominique Malonga is increasingly impressing in the WNBA.
Just like in the NBA, when Cooper Flagg takes on Dylan Harper, all eyes were on the game between the Wings and the Storm for the showdown between Paige Bueckers and Dominique Malonga, the number 1 and 2 picks of the last draft. And it was a one-sided affair, as Seattle crushed Dallas 95-60, with the Frenchwoman putting on a show with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks on 10-of-12 shooting! She tied her personal best in the WNBA, and she’s only 19 years old!
Forty-eight hours after dropping 44 points against the Sparks, Bueckers is struggling with 11 points on 2-of-7 shooting. It has to be said that she had Gabby Williams and Brittney Sykes guarding her! Yet, the brilliant Dallas guard had started the game on fire, scoring eight of her team’s first twelve points. Before disappearing completely…
Quite the opposite of Malonga, who, from the moment she entered the game, dominated the Wings’ paint. Capable of scoring from the perimeter or attacking the basket from the top of the key, the Storm rookie is becoming increasingly comfortable. This was, in fact, her fourth game of the season with at least 15 points and 5 rebounds. No other reserve player has done better this season.
“She’s really going to be very strong… Her size, her wingspan, and her speed all over the court,” enthuses Chris Koclanes, the Wings’ coach. “Once she found her rhythm, she started reading situations well on pick and rolls and getting the ball in the post. We really couldn’t push her back far enough. We tried double-teaming her, but… when she can receive the ball near the basket and just turn to score quickly, she can easily score over our smaller defenders.” “
Facing off against the French player, Diamond Miller acknowledged that Malonga gave her a tough time, and she also predicted a very bright future for her.
“She’s a very good young player, and you can already see, from the way she’s playing right now, that she’s really going to become excellent in the future,” Miller said. “It reflects her hard work and everything she’s invested. She’ll be in this league for a very, very long time.”
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