Dominique Malonga isn’t just playing her second WNBA season, she’s already carving her name into the league’s history books, and she did it in undeniable fashion at All-Star Weekend. The 20-year-old French phenom threw down the first dunk of her WNBA career on Saturday night in Chicago, a moment so huge it overshadowed her impressive 12 points and 13 rebounds in the All-Star game itself.
Malonga’s Thunderous Statement for the Emerald City
Seriously, folks, a breakaway slam! Malonga now joins absolute legends like Lisa Leslie, Jonquel Jones, Brittney Griner, and Sylvia Fowles as players who have dunked in WNBA history. You know what that means for our Storm? It’s a massive statement. She’s not just an All-Star in her second season, she’s a legitimate force. This isn’t a fluke either. She’s having a superb sophomore campaign, averaging 16.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, all while shooting a solid 47.6% from the field. That dunk wasn’t just two points; it was a declaration.
Beyond the Dunk: MVPs, New Rookies, and a Storm Star’s Viral Moment
While Malonga was making history, the rest of the WNBA All-Star Weekend was action-packed. We saw Azzi Fudd, the Dallas Wings guard, become the first-ever rookie to snag the Three-Point Contest title. She was lights out, making 17 of 27 threes in the first round and then dropping a ridiculous 30 points on 21 of 27 shooting in the final to beat Bridget Carleton. Fudd, who’s shooting 38.7% from deep in her rookie year, just shrugged it off, saying, “It’s easy to me, just the set shot… it really is muscle memory.” Easy money, $70,000 to be exact.
Then there was Jonquel Jones, the New York Liberty star, absolutely dominating the All-Star Game to earn MVP honors with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists. This adds to a trophy cabinet that already boasts a Finals MVP (2024), Commissioner’s Cup MVP (2023), and a league MVP (2021). She’s the only player in WNBA history with all four MVP awards! Talk about hardware.
But even for an MVP, not everything went smoothly. Jones found herself in a bit of hot water after a comment on Courtney Williams and our very own Seattle Storm guard, Natisha Hiedeman’s “StudBudz” stream went viral. Jones suggested the Minnesota Lynx deserved to win more than the Liberty in 2024, a comment that definitely got Liberty fans fired up. She later got emotional explaining that she just meant a team with great chemistry isn’t always enough to get it done. The “StudBudz” stream, which featured Williams and Hiedeman taking fans behind the scenes for the second year running, was a huge hit, even with its controversial moments. Our Storm’s Natisha Hiedeman really helped showcase their inimitable personalities to the world.
So, what’s next? Malonga’s historic dunk and Hiedeman’s viral stream moments prove that our Seattle Storm players are not just showing up; they’re showing out. With this kind of individual brilliance and a clear drive for greatness, you gotta be excited for what the rest of this season holds for the Emerald City’s team. Get ready, because the Storm are definitely making noise.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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