Dominique Malonga Is Cleared to Play, and the Storm's Roster Just Got a Whole Lot Deeper
The wait is over. Dominique Malonga, the Storm's second-year star and No. 2 overall pick from the 2025 draft, just got her letter of clearance from FIBA on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Alexa Philippou. Translation: she's officially eligible to play in the 2026 WNBA season, and that's huge news for Seattle.
The Contract Mess Is Finally Behind Us
Here's what went down. Last summer, the 20-year-old French phenom signed a three-year deal with Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe. But then things got messy. Malonga "unilaterally terminated" that contract, which kicked off a whole dispute over whether Fenerbahçe would actually release her to come back and play for the Storm. That's the kind of legal gray area that can drag on for months and leave a team hanging.
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Malonga is the kind of player who changes what's possible on the court. A dunking phenom with elite athleticism, she brings a dimension to the Storm's game that you simply cannot replace. Getting her back on the floor for the full 2026 season takes this team from good to scary good.
This clearance is exactly what Seattle needed early in the season. Now the Storm can count on having their young star available and ready to compete night in and night out without any doubt hanging over her head.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.