​The WNBA has announced the 2026 All-Star reserves, with Seattle Storm’s second-year forward Dominique Malonga earning her first career All-Star selection. The All-Star Weekend is set for July 24–25 in Chicago, culminating in the All-Star Game that will tip off Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Earlier in the week, on July 2, the league revealed the list of All-Star Game starters, and on July 7 the final reserve selections were announced. The reserves include Sonia Citron, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard (ATL), Marina Mabrey, Kelsey Plum, Courtney Williams, Jackie Young, Kiki Iriafen, Jonquel Jones, Dominique Malonga, Nneka Ogwumike, and Angel Reese.
Malonga, who is just 20 years old and in her second season, will compete in her first All-Star Game, making her the third youngest All-Star in WNBA history. She becomes the 12th player in Storm franchise history to earn All-Star honors. Drafted No. 2 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft with the expectation of becoming the franchise player, Malonga had a notable rookie year. She appeared in 42 games, missing only two, and averaged 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game. Now in her sophomore season, the 6-foot-6 center has blossomed into a key contributor for Seattle, averaging 15.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 39.3% from three-point range. The Storm are in the midst of a roster rebuild following the departure of former head coach Noelle Quinn after the 2025 season, with first-year head coach Sonia Raman guiding the squad.
Under Raman’s leadership, Malonga’s role has expanded significantly. Her usage rate rose from 25.3 in her rookie season to 31.7 this season, highlighting her growing centrality to Seattle’s offensive plans. She currently leads the Storm in scoring and has developed a well-rounded game that stretches the floor and creates opportunities for teammates. This progression underscores her potential to be a cornerstone for Seattle as they build toward sustained competitiveness in the league.
Off the court, Malonga has been active in the offseason. She played for the Breeze in Unrivaled, a three-on-three professional women’s basketball league, where she posted averages of 16.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, and one assist over 14 games. Notably, she became only the second player in league history to dunk in a game, accomplishing the feat on January 24 against the Lunar Owls BC, and she recorded seven double-doubles over the season. Her impact extends beyond stats; in interviews, Malonga has credited influences who helped shape her game. Speaking on the Young Man & the Three Podcast, she explained that Kevin Durant’s physicality and playing style resonated with her, noting that she grew up watching Durant and sought to model aspects of his game. She also mentioned Breanna Stewart as a major inspiration for her, describing how she admires Stewart’s approach and aims to emulate elements of her play. Malonga has also practiced with Durant during the offseason to continue refining her skills.
In addition to her on-court development, Malonga’s progress has been supported by the Storm as they seek to maximize her upside within a rebuilding roster. With her expanded role this season, her production and efficiency have improved, which bodes well for Seattle’s long-term plans. As she continues to develop her game, Malonga may become a focal point for the Storm’s efforts to recapture their championship-caliber identity and compete for playoff seeding in the highly competitive Western Conference.
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