Dominique Malonga punctuated her first WNBA All-Star appearance with a milestone moment in Chicago, throwing down the event’s first dunk since 2022. The 20-year-old’s right-handed slam was the seventh dunk in WNBA All-Star Game history and highlighted a 12-point, 13-rebound performance.
What happened
Malonga delivered the dunk with 6:24 remaining in the first half. She finished the game with a double-double, pairing her 12 points with a game-high personal total of 13 rebounds.
The slam added Malonga to the short list of players who have dunked during the WNBA’s All-Star showcase. It also provided the defining moment of a productive first appearance on the league’s All-Star stage.
Why it matters
Malonga became the youngest player to record a double-double in a WNBA All-Star Game. She reached that distinction at age 20 and did it while making her debut in the event.
The performance carried significance beyond the dunk itself. Malonga contributed on the glass throughout her 16 minutes and helped turn her first All-Star selection into a place in the event’s record book.
Her slam also ended the event’s multi-year stretch without a dunk. As the seventh in All-Star history, it remained a rare play even within a game built to showcase the league’s top talent.
By the numbers
Malonga played 16 minutes and eight seconds, scoring 12 points on 5-of-17 shooting. She added 13 rebounds, two assists and one block.
Her rebounding total allowed her to complete the double-double despite the 5-of-17 shooting performance. The combination of scoring and work on the boards gave Malonga a notable statistical line in limited playing time.
The dunk came before halftime, with 6:24 left in the opening half. It stood as the first WNBA All-Star dunk in four years and the seventh across the history of the event.
What to watch next
Malonga will return to regular-season play following the All-Star break. Her first appearance in the showcase ends with both a historic double-double and one of the event’s rarest highlights.
The All-Star performance now becomes part of the context for the rest of her season. After making an immediate mark in Chicago, Malonga’s focus shifts back to regular-season competition.