Dominique Malonga delivered a landmark finish in the WNBA All-Star Game, throwing down her first dunk in league competition during the July 25 showcase at Chicago’s United Center. The 20-year-old reached the milestone in her All-Star debut after entering the game as a reserve.

What happened

Malonga’s finish provided the signature moment of her first appearance on the WNBA All-Star stage. It was also her first dunk in WNBA competition, adding another milestone to a season in which she earned her first All-Star selection.

The moment came with Malonga serving in a reserve role. Her place in the showcase marked another step in a rapid progression from the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft to a first-time All-Star in 2026.

Why it matters

The dunk gives Malonga a defining highlight in her second WNBA season. It also extends a notable year for the French player, who earlier in 2026 became the first Frenchwoman to dunk for France.

Those two moments came in different settings, but each underscored Malonga’s ability to reach a rare benchmark. The All-Star finish carried additional weight because it happened in her first appearance at the league’s annual showcase.

Malonga entered the WNBA with the expectations attached to a No. 2 draft selection. Reaching the All-Star Game as a reserve one year after the 2025 draft placed her among the players selected for the July 25 event, while the dunk supplied a memorable first for her WNBA career.

By the numbers

Malonga was 20 years old when she made her All-Star debut and recorded the dunk. She was selected No. 2 in the 2025 WNBA draft before earning her first All-Star selection as a reserve in 2026.

The sequence of milestones has unfolded across her first two league seasons. Her All-Star dunk followed the earlier 2026 achievement with France and established her first such finish in WNBA competition.

What to watch next

The next benchmark is a first dunk during a WNBA regular-season game. The All-Star finish established that Malonga has completed the feat in league competition, but the regular-season milestone remains available when play resumes.

That pursuit will give Malonga a clear follow-up to her breakthrough in Chicago. Whatever comes next, her first All-Star appearance already produced a career marker tied to one of the league’s showcase events.