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Dominique Malonga embraces the league’s physical style, proving her toughness while earning respect from teammates and opponents across the WNBA.
The Seattle Storm’s rookie Dominique Malonga has discovered that the transition to professional basketball has focused more on strength than skill.
Malonga, 19, is the youngest player in the WNBA, but she is already making a difference by focusing on the intricate parts of the game.
“The biggest part for me is being more physical,” Malonga explained. “I’m a post player, and players in this league are very physical. If I want to finish plays, I have to finish strong, box out, and rebound. So I’m working on being tougher and bringing that physical presence.”
In a league where veterans relentlessly exploit weaknesses, awareness is essential. Malonga’s learning curve has been the steepest because she has had to learn not only to withstand the physical demands, but also to impose her own.
Building Confidence Through Trust
Despite the challenges, Malonga has embraced the opportunity to grow. With more minutes and increased reps, she’s gained the confidence that comes from trust — both from coaches and teammates.
“I think it’s going well,” she said. “I’m getting good reps now, good minutes, and I feel the trust from my coaches and teammates. That shows on the court. I just go out there, give 100 percent, and don’t think too much.”
Coach Quinn’s Praise
Malonga, who is an intriguing piece of Seattle’s future, was highlighted by Storm head coach Noelle Quinn’s unique blend of skill and sense for the game.
“These are things we see every day,” Quinn said. “She works on them and has a natural feel. It’s about her comfort, understanding the league’s physicality, and our offense. Even on the three, she read the rotation and knew she’d be open. She works on her rhythm shots, has great touch around the rim, great hands, and is very agile. It’s cool to see her production and development in real time. I’m super proud of her.”
In Quinn’s eyes, Malonga is the type of player who can rapidly develop in the right system. Despite already possessing her touch, mobility, and instincts, she was adding the toughness and durability needed to thrive against seasoned competition.
Earning Respect Around the League
Seattle is not alone in noticing her growth. The opponents, who include some of the league’s biggest stars, have taken note. Alyssa Thomas, known for being one of the top forwards in the WNBA and consistently named to the All-WNBA team, praised Malonga’s rapid development.
“Yeah, I mean, she’s only 19. Most of us entered the league at 21 or 22, so to be that young and competing at this level is really impressive,” Thomas said in an interview with LandonBuford.com. “She still has so much room to grow, and playing alongside such experienced players will only help her. We faced her in the first half of the season, and she’s already improved so much since then. I’m excited to keep watching her development—definitely sky’s the limit for her.”
Malonga’s transition has been remarkable, as Thomas’ endorsement highlights. From spacing and defensive rotations to shot selection and rebounding, she’s making a significant improvement month by month.
A Bright Future
The story of Malonga has only just started. Despite being 19 years old, she still has more opportunities to advance than most of her classmates, and she is already showing that she belongs in the group. The combination of her physical abilities, emerging strength, and guidance given by both her coaches and veteran teammates can accelerate her development in a way that many rookies have never experienced.
Seattle is looking forward to this, which is an encouraging sign. The league is eyeing a young player with the potential to become one of the next big stars. According to Alyssa Thomas, Malonga’s potential is limitless.
Landon Buford Landon Buford is a Heavy Sports contributor. I’m a Washington State graduate with a Bachelors degree in Sociology. In the past, I’ve had stops at RESPECT Magazine, The Dallas Observer, USA Today, SI, Forbes, PlayersTV, Vayner Media, and The Hype Magazine. My interest is in Sports, Entertainment, Culture, and Tech. More about Landon Buford
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