A lot is happening in the WNBA currently. With things looking pretty grim regarding the CBA negotiations, the WNBA proposed a 30-day deadline extension to avoid a work stoppage.
With the likes of Napheesa Collier, A’ja Wilson, and others protesting vehemently, the CBA situation is seemingly taking a grim turn. However, despite the dark clouds, some interesting developments are on the horizon.
Firstly, free agency will be an interesting prospect to watch out for. Next up, things will get further riled up with the 2026 WNBA Draft. However, as of now, all of that can be set aside. As with the second season of the Unrivaled coming up, Dominique Malonga had found herself in a pickle.
What Is A Letter Of Clearance, And How Is It Related To Dominique Malonga?
First things first, most WNBA players venture out abroad in the offseason to sharpen their skills. However, in order to do so, they need to obtain a letter of clearance. A letter of clearance is an official FIBA document that leagues, such as the WNBA, must sign to allow their players to participate in multiple leagues.
And this is where the drama related to Malonga comes in. While she joined the WNBA, the star player allegedly failed to obtain the necessary clearance letter from Turkish club Fenerbahce. And thus, the club is now suing the WNBA star for violating her contract without any just cause.
“We inform the public that we will exercise all our legal rights to seek compensation for any material and moral damages incurred by our club during this process,” Fenerbahçe posted to X.
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Kamuoyuna Duyuru
— Fenerbahçe Opet (@fbkadinbasket) October 20, 2025
Fenerbahçe Opet Kadın Basketbol Takımımızın oyuncularından Dominique Malonga, kulübümüz ile arasında geçerli olan profesyonel oyuncu sözleşmesini, tek taraflı ve haklı bir sebebe dayanmaksızın feshetmiştir.
Bu süreçte, kulübümüzün uğradığı her türlü maddi ve… pic.twitter.com/BNcj0sZJLA
Currently, the situation appears quite complicated for Malonga. That’s because if she intends to continue playing for the WNBA in the 2026-27 season, the WNBA star will have to obtain a letter of clearance from Fenerbahce.
However, as of now, Malonga is rumored to be playing in Unrivaled, despite the controversy. Meanwhile, despite missing a legal trick, the 19-year-old turned out to be quite a find for the Seattle Storm.
Dominique Malonga Included In The All-Rookie Team
The 19-year-old from France came in as a promising star. And eventually, she did turn out to be a star player in the making. Dishing out some impressive statistics, Malonga was a strong contender for the Rookie of the Year at one point.
And although she did not make it to the Top 3 in the Rookie of the Year list, the French star earned herself the All-Rookie honors. Along with big names like Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, and Kiki Iriafen, Malonga, too, established her reign of dominance.
She became a record holder for being the youngest player to score a double-double in the postseason. Thus, there are absolutely no questions about Malonga’s credibility as a star. Now, fans wait to see what happens next as she deals with her legal troubles.