ESPN crowns surprising rookie as a leader of the pack

Stephanie Kaloi

ESPN crowns surprising rookie as a leader of the pack image

Dominique Malonga is one of the most exciting rookies in the WNBA right now — and the fourth most powerful player under age 25 in the league. That's the word from ESPN, who ranked the French superstar, who was drafted as the No. 2 overall pick this year, fourth on their list of the best 25 players under 25.

More: Storm's Dominique Malonga is youngest player in WNBA history with points-rebounds stats record

While Wings star and UConn graduate was as lock for the second spot on the list (and the Fever's Caitlin Clark was number one), Malonga emerged as a somewhat surprising pick over fellow rookies Sonia Citron (No. 6) and Kiki Iriafen (No. 10).

Malonga is averaging 13.5 PPG and 7.4 RPG on 60% shooting, and her "athleticism allows her to make plays no other player her size can make, and she also displays incredible touch as a shooter," writes the outlet's Kevin Pelton. 

ESPN also pointed out that if Malonga were American, she'd only been in her second season of college right now — a reality that makes her WNBA stats all the more impressive. Malonga has consistently proven her ceiling is sky-high, and it sounds like everyone else is starting to notice.

Stephanie Kaloi

Stephanie is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. Her journalism career began entirely too long ago and is still her favorite thing to do. She covers women's sports (primarily basketball) and loves writing lengthy reports for no reason about exactly how each WNBA team will and will not succeed in any given season.