Storm rookie Dominique Malonga made WNBA history on Thursday when, at 19, she became the youngest player in league history to reach 100 points and to hit a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds) in 17 minutes of play.
At 19 years and 250 days old, Malonga surpassed Liz Cambage’s previous double-double record set in 2011 by 40 days.
Malonga’s feat in Seattle’s 95–57 blowout win over the Chicago Sky comes just 24 games into her pro career, showing how well she is adjusting to the league.
In April, Malonga became the WNBA’s youngest player ever drafted when the Seattle Storm selected the 19-year-old French sensation with the second overall pick in the WNBA Draft.
According to the Seattle Times, the 6-foot-6 player went viral three years ago after she flushed a few slams at practice with ease. She was a bright teen with surprising athleticism and a wide range of skills. Last October, she made history as the first French woman to dunk in a game.
Malonga was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and joined veteran NBA player Tony Parker and his French team ASVEL Féminin at the age of 15. Parker quickly gave her the nickname “Female Wemby” in reference to their French national, Victor Wembanyama, the incredibly gifted big player selected first overall in the 2023 NBA draft.
Malonga became the fifth player from outside the country to be selected among the top two picks in the WNBA draft, and the highest Storm draft selection since Breanna Stewart was selected first overall in 2016.
“It was a lot of emotion when I heard my name,” Malonga said. “I was kind of stressed first, but the minute I heard it was better, of course. At first I went to my mom. … It was symbolic to go to her first because she is one of the most important person of my life. She is one of the reason that I’m here today, and I really wanted to show that.
“And of course, my family, my dad, my brothers and my sister, they are everything to me. They’re the reason that I’m here today, and my motivation of every day. So, you could see that there was a lot of emotion between us. I’m so proud and happy to have been able to bring them here today.”