Seattle Storm battled through the ups and downs this season to finally secure a playoff spot. And en route to doing that, the contributions of one name that cannot be ignored are those of Dominique Malonga. And she had a lot of moments that hinted at her potential status as a future superstar. For instance, back in early August, Malonga became the youngest star to reach 100 points & rebounds. Now, with the playoffs underway, it looks like the teenager from France hasn’t lost her Midas’ touch.
The Storm is looking to make a lasting impact this season. And while they have qualified for the playoffs, now they will want to prolong their stay in the league. And the 19-year-old will surely help them in their quest, as Malonga had a sublime outing.
Dominique Malonga Shines Against The Las Vegas Aces
The Seattle Storm recently faced the Las Vegas Aces. Unfortunately, the game did not pan out as expected. Outplayed by the Aces, the Storm slumped to a 102-77 defeat. But despite the sombre outcome, Malonga’s performance was something that the Storm could take heart from.
Playing in her own dominant fashion, the 19-year-old rookie chipped in with 12 points and 11 rebounds. And that was not all. She also had three steals and three blocks while shooting 2-of-2 from the three-point range. And with this, the French athlete created history. She became the very first teenager in the WNBA to score a playoff double-double, according to Polymarket Hoops.
Dominique Malonga in her playoff debut:
— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) September 15, 2025
12 PTS
11 REB
3 STL + BLK
2/2 3PT
First teenager in WNBA playoff history to record a double-double. pic.twitter.com/W0oZwKb0be
Displaying some top-notch basketball action, Malonga also set a new team record. She now has the most offensive rebounds by a rookie in a playoff game with four rebounds. Owing to her fine showing, Malonga recently staked a claim for elite WNBA honor beyond rookie status. And she also got a pat on the back from coach Noelle Quinn.
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Dominique Malonga Got Praised By The Head Coach Earlier In The Season
It looks like Malonga shining in a game where the Aces dominated the Storm is an old script. Back in early August, the Storm locked horns with the Aces. And while Las Vegas had the last laugh, it was Malonga who shone bright yet again. She helped her team come back from a 19-point deficit and dropped 22 points and 12 rebounds. Surely, such a showing had the head coach’s attention.
Heaping praises on the youngster, Quinn said, “It was a process and, you know, she understood that process. We did as a group as well. Learning the league, learning how she can find ways to play well, play within ourselves, within our system and what we want to do defensively. Defending multiple positions from posts to guards. That just takes some time and I think she’s put the work in on court film sessions to really understand what we need from her and she’s grown up right before our eyes and going to continue to get better.”
Surely, Malonga is showing signs of becoming a great player. And with her form clicking in at the right time, it will be interesting to see how the Storm can benefit from it in the playoffs.