The Seattle Storm may be without one of their most promising young players when they continue their playoff push Monday night against the Los Angeles Sparks. Rookie center Dominique Malonga is listed as questionable with a left wrist injury, according to the team’s status report.
Malonga sat out Saturday’s 79-69 victory over the Chicago Sky, when Nneka Ogwumike scored 20 points to lead six Storm players in double figures. Seattle (22-19) swept the season series against Chicago and has now won five of its last six overall. Ezi Magbegor added 13 points, while Skylar Diggins and Gabby Williams each finished with 12.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – AUGUST 17: Dominique Malonga #14 of the Seattle Storm gestures during the third quarter of the game against the Phoenix Mercury … | Alika Jenner/Getty Images/Alika Jenner/Getty Images
The absence of Malonga has been felt. The 19-year-old has emerged as a key piece in Seattle’s frontcourt rotation, averaging 7.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 39 games this season. Her production has surged late in the year, with averages of 13.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in August.
“I think I’m just growing in general with this team,” Malonga told RG. “I’m getting more and more minutes, and I’ve felt the trust since day one from my teammates and the coaching staff. They’ve done a great job implementing things for me to build on every day.”
Before the injury, Malonga had delivered some of her best performances yet. She scored 22 points, grabbed nine rebounds, blocked three shots, and shot 83.3% from the field in a recent game against Dallas. Earlier this month, she went 6-for-7 from the floor for 13 points in Seattle’s comeback win over Minnesota. Her rebounding has been historic as well—she became the youngest player in WNBA history to record 50 offensive rebounds before turning 20.
Defensively, Malonga has already shown the ability to contain elite competition. In head-to-head matchups, she limited Minnesota star Napheesa Collier to just 28.5% shooting, the lowest mark Collier has managed in any single-player matchup this season.
Seattle will need to decide whether to bring Malonga back on Monday or hold her out with four games left in the regular season. The Storm currently sit seventh in the league standings and are trying to solidify playoff position.
The Sparks, meanwhile, will enter the matchup on the second night of a back-to-back after hosting the Washington Mystics in Los Angeles on Sunday. That quick turnaround leaves them traveling north to Seattle with potential fatigue, setting up a key opportunity for the Storm if they can stay healthy.
Tipoff between the Storm and Sparks is scheduled for Monday night at Climate Pledge Arena.
