The Threat to Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark: French Phenom Dunks with Power
The women’s basketball landscape that has been dominated by the electrifying rivalry between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark is about to experience a seismic shift as a towering French phenomenon emerges to challenge their supremacy with raw athleticism and unprecedented dunking ability. Dominique Malonga, a 19-year-old, 6-foot-6 center from France, has already made history as the first Frenchwoman to dunk in an official game, sending shockwaves through the basketball world and establishing herself as a legitimate threat to the established order of American basketball excellence.
The emergence of this French phenom represents more than just another talented international player entering the WNBA ecosystem; it signals the arrival of a generational talent whose combination of size, skill, and athletic prowess has already drawn comparisons to Victor Wembanyama himself. Malonga’s rare combination of size, skill and athleticism has garnered her Victor Wembanyama comparisons, suggesting that her impact on women’s basketball could mirror the revolutionary influence that her countryman has had on the men’s game since his arrival in the NBA.
While Angel Reese has built her reputation on dominant rebounding and physical play in the paint, and Caitlin Clark has mesmerized audiences with her long-range shooting and playmaking abilities, Malonga brings a unique dimension that neither of the American stars can match: the ability to dunk with authority and consistency that has never been seen before in women’s basketball. In October 2024, Malonga became the first Frenchwoman to dunk in an official game, marking a historic moment that announced her arrival as a game-changing force who could redefine what is possible for women’s basketball players at the highest level.
The timing of Malonga’s emergence could not be more significant for the trajectory of women’s basketball, as she enters a league that has experienced unprecedented growth and attention largely due to the captivating rivalry between Reese and Clark throughout their college careers and into their professional seasons. A nimble, athletic player with skilled shooting and marked versatility, Malonga went on to make waves last October as the first-ever Frenchwoman to dunk in a game, demonstrating that her skill set extends far beyond just her ability to finish above the rim and encompasses the complete package of modern basketball excellence.
The French phenom’s international experience and success at the highest levels of competition provide her with a unique advantage over her American counterparts, as she has already proven herself capable of competing against elite international talent and contributing to meaningful victories on the world stage. Malonga represented France at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she was the youngest on the team to win a silver-medal, showcasing her ability to perform under pressure and contribute to team success despite being significantly younger than her teammates and opponents.
The strategic implications of Malonga’s arrival in the WNBA extend beyond individual matchups, as her presence forces coaches and teams to completely reconsider their defensive schemes and offensive strategies when facing a player who can dominate in ways that have never been consistently available in women’s basketball before. At only 19 years old, Dominique Malonga, a Cameroonian-born, French-raised phenom, became the youngest player ever drafted into the WNBA, selected second overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2025 WNBA Draft, indicating that professional scouts and executives view her as a generational talent worthy of the highest draft consideration.
The psychological impact of facing a player who can dunk with regularity and authority cannot be understated in women’s basketball, where such displays of athleticism have been rare and often game-changing when they do occur, potentially shifting momentum and intimidating opponents in ways that traditional post moves and perimeter skills cannot replicate. She is noted for her great height and athletic abilities, being capable of dunking since she was 14 years old, suggesting that her dunking ability is not a recent development but rather a fundamental part of her basketball identity that has been refined over years of development.
As Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark continue to build their legacies and establish themselves as the faces of women’s basketball, they must now contend with a new reality where their dominance is no longer guaranteed and where a young French player with unprecedented physical gifts threatens to overshadow their accomplishments. The competition between these three players represents more than just individual rivalry; it embodies the globalization of women’s basketball and the emergence of international talent that can compete with and potentially surpass the best that American basketball has to offer, setting the stage for an era of unprecedented competitiveness and athleticism in the sport.
The future of women’s basketball appears destined to be shaped by the dynamic interplay between these three distinct but equally compelling talents, each bringing their own unique strengths and characteristics to a sport that is experiencing rapid evolution and growth in both popularity and athletic achievement.