Malonga lands first WNBA dunk in All-Star debut

Dominique Malonga delivered her first WNBA dunk during her All-Star debut at United Center in Chicago on July 25. The finish added another milestone to the 20-year-old center’s second season and put her above-the-rim ability on display during the league’s 30th-season showcase.

Dominique Malonga marked her WNBA All-Star debut with her first dunk in the league, delivering the finish during the July 25 showcase at United Center in Chicago. The moment gave the 6-foot-6 center a signature highlight in her first appearance on the All-Star stage.

What happened

Coaches selected Malonga as a first-time reserve earlier in July, placing her among the players featured in the WNBA’s 30th-season showcase. She followed that selection by producing an above-the-rim moment in Chicago.

The dunk was Malonga’s first in a WNBA setting and arrived before she had recorded one in a regular-season game. It also gave her All-Star debut a clear place in the early timeline of her professional career.

Why it matters

Malonga entered the weekend with an established profile as an interior producer, but the dunk broadened the picture of what she can bring. Her size and finishing ability translated into a highlight on one of the league’s most visible stages.

The timing added weight to the milestone. At 20 and in only her second WNBA season, Malonga paired her first All-Star selection with a display of above-the-rim ability, strengthening her standing as one of the league’s prominent young players.

Her appearance also came early in her career after she entered the league as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft. Reaching the All-Star stage and delivering the dunk provided another marker of her progression since that selection.

By the numbers

Malonga arrived at All-Star weekend averaging 16.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Those numbers supplied the production behind her reserve selection and reflected her impact during her second season.

At 6-foot-6, she has the physical profile to influence play around the basket. The All-Star dunk added a visible example of that ability to the scoring and rebounding figures she had already compiled.

What to watch next

The next benchmark is a dunk in a regular-season WNBA game when league play resumes. After completing the feat during the All-Star showcase, Malonga will have an opportunity to carry that above-the-rim presence into games that count in the standings.