Remember her name. Dominique Malonga. It’s not just us who is saying this. French Sports agency CoSport said it way back in 2022, posting a video of her dunking off of two feet. But we understand if you did not hear her name despite being glued to your phone during March Madness, since Malonga is not a part of any American College. Now, though, she is making sure that no one ever forgets it, even the likes of A’ja Wilson. And ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike is already on board, with her seal of approval in place.

The youngest in this year’s WNBA draft class, Dominique Malonga was also the youngest player on France’s 2024 Olympic silver-medal team. Her pro journey began in June 2021, when she signed up with France’s women’s basketball club, ASVEL Féminin, where she averaged 15.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. So, it is no surprise that ESPN’s Michael Voepel is betting on her being the second draft pick and back when he did so, he chose her over names like Olivia Miles, Kiki Iriafen, and Sonia Citron. And that former NBA player, Tony Parker, calls her “Female Wemby,” putting her in the same league as Victor Wembanyama.

Knowing what Malonga brings to the table, ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike said, “I’m going to tell you who is going to be the steal of the draft: A 6’6”, 19-year-old French post player by the name of Dominique Malonga. I always say good players have go-to moves. Great players have countermoves. She gets the ball outside of three, she rips through.”

Hyping Malonga up as the draft’s hidden gem, she added, “[Malonga] is already, again,19 years old with these types of moves. This is going to be a player that can actually be slept on, but also will make a tremendous impact in the W.”

And well, fair to say that she has already begun to stir the waves. In a recent interview with Rachel DeMita, Malonga didn’t just name-drop her idols—she laid out her hit list. “Stewie (Breanna Stewert) of course because I really love how smooth she is,” gushing over Breanna Stewart’s fadeaway. “That’s my go-to move.” Then she pivoted to the players she’s itching to face: “I won’t say nervous. I would say I can’t wait to play them,” she said. “Because it’s great, great player when I think about A’ja Wilson, Britteny Griner.”

That’s a 19-year-old wishing to go against Wilson, who dropped a rookie high of 20.7 points, and Griner, a 6’9” rim protector. Bold? You bet. The Aces’ superstar made her name, marshalling the paint area. With two WNBA titles, three MVP awards, and six All-Star selections in just seven seasons, it is an understatement to call Wilson just a dominating player in the WNBA.

And that dominance has shown off the court too. The 2017 NCAA Champion and first-overall pick in 2018 has also managed to capitalize on her fame and productivity with lucrative deals. Signing two extensions in the last four seasons, her salary is now $200K a year, putting her at the 16th position on the WNBA wages list. Her deals with Nike, Gatorade, Ruffles, and Mountain Dew earned her some extra bucks, pushing her net worth to $4 million as of 2025. Named one of TIME’s Women of the Year in 2025, she’s also got a voice that shapes the game.

Back on the court again and A’ja Wilson is already looking to win her third championship with the revamped Aces. If anything is clear as of now, it’s that she will have one tough opponent as Dominique Malonga when their sides face each other. Both 6 ft 4+ athletes have every move to turn the game in their team’s favor. While A’ja has WNBA experience advantage over Malonga, the developing 19-year-old will look to make games as hard and competitive as she can when facing Aces or any other opponent in the paint.

Also, Malonga is not just another prospect—she’s being called a game-changer for a reason. The Athletic’s podcast called her “the best player in this draft when it’s all said and done,” further calling her a “French phenom.” To reiterate- for a reason!

Ways Dominique Malonga can affect the game

Born to professional basketball players – Thalance Malonga and Agathe N’Nindjem-Yolemp, Dominique Malonga’s name was destined to be written in the WNBA books. Her family moved to France, and by the age of 15, Dominique was already a pro, signing a contract with Tony Parker’s LDLC ASVEL (Lyon) club. Since then, Malonga has won a silver medal with France at the 2024 Paris Olympics, led her club team (Lyon) to the semifinals of EuroCup Women 2025, and became the first Frenchwoman to dunk in an official game. And now the next big step – WNBA.

Her positives are surely her size, athleticism, game IQ, and movement. Malonga stands 6-foot-6 and boasts a remarkable 7-foot-1 wingspan. Last season, there were only nine players in the WNBA who were 6-foot-6 or taller. This is a massive advantage for Malonga, who will be a menace for the scorers, especially the ones looking to play at the rim. Along with her size, Malonga’s fluidity of movement is one of the primary reasons she is such a unique prospect. She navigates the rim and mid-range area with ease, and her footwork enables her to excel in various plays, such as pick-and-rolls, transitions, and perimeter defense.

As the WNBA evolves and offenses start to look more like they do in the NBA, Malonga has the tools to be a perfect modern big. “I really love to pop because I have all the options,” Malonga told DeMita. “I can shoot, I can drive, I can Euro… There is so much around the pick-and-pop, so now I really love that.”

Speaking of the NBA, remember when Tony compared Malonga to Victor Wembanyama. Sure, it highlighted her effectiveness and efficiency, especially considering the size, potential, and game knowledge both French superstars possess. However, when on court, she remembers only herself.

“Being compared to Victor is nice because he’s a significant player,” Malonga said. “The things that he’s doing are so amazing, so of course being compared to him is an honor, but I want to make sure that I don’t lose my identity in that and I still have my game. When I’m on the court I play as Dominique Malonga, not as Victor.”

So, it will be interesting to see how Malonga competes in the toughest WBB league. We will not have to wait for long as the 2025 WNBA season is inching closer.