The WNBA landscape has been dominated by the electrifying rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, two phenomenal talents who have captured the imagination of basketball fans worldwide with their incredible skills and competitive fire. However, emerging from the basketball courts of France comes a formidable threat that could potentially disrupt this established order and challenge the supremacy of these two American stars in ways that few could have anticipated.
Dominique Malonga, the 6-foot-6 French phenom who was selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm, represents a new breed of international talent that combines raw athleticism with technical proficiency in ways that have never been seen before in women’s basketball. At just 19 years old, this towering figure from France possesses a unique combination of size, strength, and dunking ability that sets her apart from virtually every other player in the league, including the established stars who have been dominating headlines.
The basketball world first took notice of Malonga’s extraordinary abilities when she was just 16 years old, as French sports agency Comsport posted a viral video showing her dunking with remarkable ease off of two feet during a workout, accompanied by the prophetic caption “Remember the name.” This early display of her devastating dunking ability was merely a glimpse of what would become her signature weapon, a skill that could fundamentally alter the dynamics of how the game is played at the highest level and potentially overshadow the accomplishments of current stars.
What makes Malonga particularly dangerous as a competitor to Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark is not just her physical dominance, but her proven ability to perform under the highest levels of international pressure and competition. Her resume includes winning a silver medal with France at the 2024 Paris Olympics, demonstrating that she can excel when the stakes are highest and the competition is most fierce, qualities that will be essential as she transitions to the professional level in the United States.
The timing of Malonga’s arrival in the WNBA could not be more significant, as it coincides with the continued development and evolution of both Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark as they enter their second professional seasons. The 2025 WNBA season has already shown record-breaking television ratings, with the season opener between Clark’s Indiana Fever and Reese’s Chicago Sky averaging 2.7 million viewers, indicating that the league’s popularity has reached unprecedented heights largely due to these two players’ magnetic appeal and competitive rivalry.
However, Malonga’s unique skill set presents challenges that neither Reese nor Clark have faced before in their professional careers, particularly her ability to dominate the paint with thunderous dunks and her imposing physical presence that could neutralize some of the advantages that have made both American stars so effective in their respective roles. Her combination of European basketball fundamentals with explosive athleticism represents a hybrid style that could prove difficult for traditional American players to counter, potentially shifting the balance of power in the league.
The psychological impact of Malonga’s dunking ability cannot be understated, as it introduces an element of intimidation and spectacle that has been largely absent from women’s basketball at the professional level for decades. While both Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have built their reputations on different aspects of the game – Reese through her rebounding prowess and physical play, Clark through her shooting range and playmaking abilities – Malonga’s ability to finish above the rim with authority could capture the imagination of fans and media in ways that traditional skills simply cannot match.
Furthermore, the international dimension of Malonga’s background adds another layer of complexity to the competitive landscape, as she represents the growing globalization of women’s basketball and the increasing quality of international talent that is entering the WNBA. Basketball analysts have noted that Malonga’s experience and skill set could allow her to find success in the league almost immediately, suggesting that she may not need the typical adjustment period that many rookies require when transitioning to professional basketball.
The media attention and fan interest that Malonga is likely to generate could potentially divert some of the spotlight that has been focused exclusively on the Reese-Clark rivalry, creating a three-way competition for recognition and accolades that could reshape the narrative of women’s basketball for years to come. Her unique combination of size, athleticism, and international pedigree represents a different archetype of player that could appeal to fans who are looking for something new and exciting beyond the established rivalry between the two American stars.
As the WNBA continues to evolve and grow in popularity, the emergence of players like Dominique Malonga serves as a reminder that the competitive landscape is constantly changing, and that even the most established stars must continue to elevate their games to maintain their positions at the top of the sport. The French phenomenon’s arrival in Seattle represents not just a new chapter in her own career, but potentially a turning point in the broader narrative of women’s professional basketball, one that could challenge the dominance of Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark in ways that will test their resilience, adaptability, and continued commitment to excellence in the face of this formidable new threat from across the Atlantic.