Dominique Malonga Throws Down First All-Star Game Dunk Since 2022

CHICAGO — With 6:24 left in the second quarter Saturday night, Dominique Malonga ran the lane, caught a pass from Angel Reese, and dunked it right-handed in the WNBA All-Star Game at the United Center.

Reese jumped up and down as the ball went through. The two met for a chest bump in the air on the way back down the floor.

It was the first dunk in a WNBA All-Star Game since Sylvia Fowles in 2022. Lisa Leslie dunked in the 2005 game, Jonquel Jones in 2017, and Brittney Griner in 2019.

"It just felt amazing," Malonga said in an on-court interview. "I just felt blessed every day to evolve in this league amongst these amazing players. I'm really, really grateful just to have the opportunity to leave my mark here."

Malonga finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds in 16 minutes for Team Coop, which lost 129-122. All 12 of her points came before halftime. She shot 6-of-10 in the first half and 0-of-7 in the second, and she pulled down 5 offensive rebounds.

Paige Bueckers, who had 12 points and 7 assists, was asked about the dunk at the postgame press conference. Marina Mabrey sat next to her.

"She makes it look easy," Bueckers said. "Thankfully she was on my team, so I got to see it up close and personal."

"I did not get dunked on," Mabrey said.

"She wasn't the one who got dunked on," Bueckers said.

Malonga made the All-Star team as a reserve, the first selection of her career. Coaches around the league chose the reserves, and fans, media, and players voted for the starters.

Seattle drafted Malonga second overall in 2025. She was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on November 16, 2005, and signed her first professional contract with the French club ASVEL Féminin at 15. In October 2024, she became the first Frenchwoman to dunk in an official game.

Malonga played for France at the Paris Olympics that summer and was the youngest player on a team that won the silver medal. Gabby Williams was on that French roster and is her teammate in Seattle. Williams played for Team Coop on Saturday and finished with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists.

As a rookie last season, Malonga averaged 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds in 14.3 minutes and shot 55.1% from the field. She made the All-Rookie Team, set a Storm record with three 20-point games off the bench, and became the youngest player in league history to record a double-double. She had wrist surgery after the season. She played for Breeze BC in Unrivaled over the winter.

Jones, who dunked in the 2017 All-Star Game, was asked at her own press conference which meant more to her, that dunk or the All-Star MVP award she won Saturday. Jones said the MVP.

Malonga's role grew over the second half of her rookie year. Across her final 22 appearances, including the playoffs, she averaged 11.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 21 minutes.

Seattle acquired the pick it used on her from Los Angeles in the trade that sent Jewell Loyd to the Sparks. Malonga skipped EuroBasket in 2025 to report to the Storm for her rookie season.

Malonga has averaged 16.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.3 blocks in 21 games this season. She has shot 47.6% from the field and 70.5% at the free-throw line in 25.8 minutes per game.

Seattle is 6-23 and last in the standings, 16.5 games back. The Storm have lost six in a row and are 2-8 over their last 10 games.

Seattle hosts Indiana on Tuesday.