What happened: Seattle made a public case Tuesday for Dominique Malonga as Most Improved Player and an All-WNBA selection. The endorsement adds late-season award momentum around Malonga as league honors approach.

Why it matters: The push lands just after Malonga's 21-point World Cup final for France, keeping her name in the awards conversation beyond WNBA play. Team-backed campaigning can sharpen attention on players whose cases are still being sorted near the end of the season.

What to watch: The next markers are official awards voting and whether Malonga's closing stretch strengthens her case for both ballots.