Storm Select Malonga, Sundell in WNBA Draft

The 19-year old French Phenom was drafted 2nd overall by Seattle.

The WNBA Draft concluded with the Seattle Storm selecting four players. The big question entering the draft was, “Who would the Storm select #2 overall?” after the Dallas Wings selected UConn’s Paige Bueckers with the first pick in Monday’s draft.

I think a lot of that uncertainty ended the moment Notre Dame point guard Olivia Miles opted to return to school for her 5th season of college basketball. Without Miles as an option, the Storm selected Best Player Available and took the 6’6” Center out of France, Dominique Malonga. I honestly believe that the Storm would have selected Malonga even had Miles entered the draft. Malonga’s upside was likely too good to pass up, no matter what.

The 19-year-old Malonga shares similarities to a couple of players the Storm are very familiar with - Ezi Magbegor and Breanna Stewart. She has elite size and length, but what makes Dom such a tantalizing prospect is her speed and quickness. It is her ability to drive to the rim from the outside. She can shoot the ball from beyond the arc. And, of course, her ability to finish at the rim. She should also be a disruptor on the defensive side of the ball.

“Dominique is a rising global star and we are thrilled to welcome her to Seattle,” said Seattle Storm General Manager Talisa Rhea. “She brings versatility, skill and a high level of efficiency. We know she’ll be an integral part of our team, now and for years to come.”

Per the Storm’s Press Release.

Born in Yaounde, Cameroon, Malonga began her professional career in 2021 when she signed with French club, ASVEL Feminin (formerly the Lyon Basket féminin), at just 15 years old. In her first two seasons, she averaged 6.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. In August 2023, she was loaned to fellow French basketball team, Tarbes Gespe Bigorre, and in 25 games, averaged 11.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. This past season, Malonga returned to ASVEL Feminin and averaged 15.4 points and 10.3 rebounds.

During this year’s EuroCup women’s tournament, Malonga was the team’s leading scorer with an average of 18.5 points and 11 rebounds. Most recently, she put up 27 points alongside nine rebounds in ASVEL Feminin’s win over fellow French team, Flammes Carolo. Malonga was selected to this year’s All-EuroCup First Team and won European Player of the Year and Center of the Year for the tournament as well.

Seattle didn’t have a 2nd round pick this year because they traded it to the Los Angeles Sparks to acquire Lexie Brown and the Sparks’ third-round pick, which was the first pick of the 3rd and final round of the draft. With that pick, 26th overall, the Storm selected Serena Sundell, a 6’2” point guard from Kansas State.

Sundell is the sister of Seattle Seahawks backup Center (Offensive Line) Jalen Sundell. I knew the Seahawks had a Sundell on their roster, I just didn’t realize it was her actual brother, which is so cool. She averaged 14.1 PPG and led the country with 7.3 APG for Division 1 Basketball. She also shot over 50% from the field during her Senior and Junior seasons in college.

Sundell was invited to the draft room and was projected to go much higher in the draft. Many mock drafts had her going toward the end of the first round or very early in the second round. The Storm may have added two first-round talents in this year’s draft with the selections of Malonga and Sundell.

With their final two selections, the Storm selected Madison Conner - a 5’11” guard out of TCU (29th overall) and Jordan Hobbs - a 6’3” guard from Michigan (34th overall). Conner averaged 14.4 PPG and shot 45% from the three-point line. She also averaged 4.0 RPG and 3.6 APG. Hobbs averaged 13.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 2.6 APG.

After the draft, Storm General Manager Talisa Rhea confirmed that the team would break camp with 11 players, but there might be a chance to add a 12th player later in the season. She also confirmed that Nika Mühl would not be available to start the season, but it still isn’t clear if she will be fully suspended for the entire season.

There is likely just one roster spot available for several players. That includes the three players selected in the third round along with last year’s third-round pick, Mackenzie Holmes, and any additional training camp contract players like Zia Cooke.

Coach Noelle Quinn and GM Talisa Rhea were interviewed by myself and the rest of the Seattle media after the draft concluded. Be on the lookout for more quotes from that in another article coming out this week.

Notes:
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