It Should be Malonga Time

For the Seattle Storm to reach championship aspirations, Dominique Malonga needs more playing time

The Seattle Storm began the year 3-1 with victories over the Dallas Wings, Phoenix Mercury and the Las Vegas Aces. Seattle then proceeded to lose three in a row including a game to the Minnesota Lynx. Of course, the Storm followed that stretch up with three victories in a row including a fantastic game against those same Minnesota Lynx. And of course a loss to Golden State followed their best game of the year. So is this team a true title contender or just a four seed that lacks consistency?

Only time will tell, but one way the Storm can cement their status among the league’s elite teams is to play rookie Dominique Malonga more. A lot more.

Last year, the Storm rolled out a starting lineup of Skylar Diggins, Jewell Loyd, Gabby Williams (or Jordan Horston), Nneka Ogwumike, and Ezi Magbegor. That group was good enough to earn the #4 seed in the WNBA and a first round loss (2-0) to Vegas. That group was good enough to be just good enough.

Fast forward to 2025. Jewell is in Vegas. Gabby Williams is a different player, exuding confidence that mirrors her Olympics performance for France. Erica Wheeler and Alysha Clark have given the Storm much better options at the off guard position, while Diggins is a year more removed from maternity leave. They look like a better basketball team. But yet, they still sit at 6-5 overall and absolutely league average in net rating. There is nothing special about this group as currently constructed.

According to Basketball Reference, the Storm are fifth in the WNBA in the Simple Rating System, which takes into account point differential and strength of schedule. The Lynx (2nd ranked in SRS) are much higher than Seattle and the Liberty (1st) are light years above. In order for the Storm to compete for a championship with those two dominant squads (plus Phoenix, Indiana, and Vegas if they figure it out), Seattle needs a new level of play. Malonga gives the Storm that different level that changes their upside.

Malonga can do things that no one else on the Storm roster can do. On Wednesday against Minnesota, her length caused all kinds of problems for Napheesa Collier, one of the best players in the WNBA. Collier was 2 of 7 against Malonga and it was apparent that Malonga was making things difficult. On the offensive end, Malonga had a sequence where she threw a dime for a lay in, used her athleticism to go around Collier for a post up bucket, got an offensive rebound put back and showed athleticism unmatched on the current roster. How did Noelle Quinn reward this performance? With six minutes against Golden State.

While Ezi Magbegor continues to play 28 minutes per game, Malonga sits and waits. Meanwhile, Seattle sits and waits for something beyond an above average team that is getting ready for their first round playoff exit once again. Magbegor and Malonga should be splitting time on the floor at this point, but the deference to veterans continues to hamper this coaching staff. Per 36 minutes, Malonga is a better scorer and more efficient than Ezi right now.

Right where the coaching staff likes her currently

Of course, the coaches and casual fans will point to Malonga’s youth and lack of knowledge of defensive coverages. For those in that camp, go watch the last two games and observe Malonga’s growth. Her help on drives against Minnesota and well excecuted drop coverage on a pick and roll show me all I need to see. Oh and Malonga actually has a better defensive rating than Magbegor right now (102 to 100).

It’s Malonga time.

Go ahead and wait if you want Coach Quinn. And enjoy another first round appearance in the playoffs.