When GMs across the league were asked about the 2025 WNBA Draft, and which rookie they expected to be No. 1 in a half-decade, 60 percent of the eyes were set on one player in particular in Dominique Malonga. Step No. 1 in that journey, ironically, involved the Seattle Storm’s new No. 2 pick finding a way to channel invisibility during a well-executed cut to the rim. Welcoming the challenge as the Association’s third-youngest player — and the youngest in the Storm’s history — Malonga benefits from both her teammates’ pick-and-roll and the Phoenix Mercury’s defensive lapse, banking in a painless milestone basket during the game’s final two minutes. Projected to be something quite marvelous for a franchise known for breeding superstar frontcourt talents, Malonga made reasonable use of her 10-minute debut in the loss to Phoenix. The International big’s final tally included two points (on one-of-two shooting) off the bench. · May 18, 2025