Hold up, Seattle. Remember all that buzz around Dominique Malonga coming into the 2025 draft? Well, guess what? She is making her first All-Star appearance, and if you haven't been watching, you're missing out on the future of the Seattle Storm. Our 6'6" center isn't just a paint presence; she's dropping 15.5 points, grabbing 7.9 rebounds, and swatting 1.2 blocks per game, all while shooting a wild 36.7 percent from beyond the arc! This kid is a problem for the rest of the league, and the Emerald City is buzzing.
The Legends Draft Their Squads, Wilson Goes First Overall
Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon, two absolute legends, put on their GM hats for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game draft. They pieced together their respective rosters, and honestly, they did a solid job balancing things out. On Team Weatherspoon, it was no shocker that A'ja Wilson, the Las Vegas Aces' superstar, went first overall. She's a beast, already snagging her fourth MVP in 2025 and looking set for a fifth. The 6'4" center leads the WNBA in scoring with 25.5 points and is third in rebounds with 9.8. Team Cooper fired back, taking Wilson's on-court rival through the years, New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart, with their first pick. Stewart, a two-time MVP herself, is putting up 20.4 points and 8.4 rebounds every contest. It's gonna be a heavyweight battle. Fans voted Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark as the highest vote-getters, landing them on Team Cooper and Team Weatherspoon, respectively.New Faces Ready to Run the Show
This year's All-Star Game isn't just about the established names; we've got four fresh faces making their debut, and our very own Dominique Malonga is leading the charge for the future. Joining her are Jessica Shepard, Olivia Miles, and Marina Mabrey. Shepard and Mabrey, who were college teammates at Notre Dame, are seasoned vets having career years. Mabrey is tearing it up for the expansion Toronto Tempo, sitting third in the league in scoring average with 21 points per game. Shepard, once a super sub, is proving she's more than that, averaging 15 points and 11.6 rebounds in 32.8 minutes a night. Then you have Olivia Miles, the clear front-runner for Rookie of the Year, stepping up big for the Minnesota Lynx with 19.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists. Malonga, Miles, and the rest of these new All-Stars? Yeah, get used to seeing them for years to come. The squads will face off on July 25 at the United Center in Chicago. Before that, on July 24, Wintrust Arena hosts the Three Point Contest and Shooting Stars competition. We're still waiting to hear who's participating in those, but you bet your bottom dollar we'll be watching to see if Malonga gets a spot in the three-point shootout. With her range, she'd be a serious contender. Go Storm!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.