WNBA Draft Tracker: Seattle Storm Select France’s Dominique Malonga at No. 2 Overall
The Seattle Storm selected France’s Dominique Malonga second overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, the best talent available with that pick. Credit: Estevoaei
The 2025 WNBA Draft is complete, and the Seattle Storm used all four of their selections. France phenom Dominique Malonga (second overall) became the franchise’s highest selection since 2016 when it took Breanna Stewart first overall out of UConn.
Seattle acquired the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft from the Los Angeles Sparks in a three-team trade that sent six-time All-Star Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces. The Storm now hope Malonga may become the future face of the franchise.
The backcourt was the Storm’s biggest need in this draft. After taking Malonga second overall, the team made a run on guards with their trio of third-round picks — all of whom will have a chance to compete in training camp for a final roster spot.
Here are each of Seattle’s four draft selections, with instant analysis and additional information on each pick.
First Round
No. 2 overall pick (from Los Angeles): Dominique Malonga, F/C, France
Accolades:
2024 Paris Olympics Silver medalist
2024-25 All-EuroCup Player of the Year
2024-25 All-EuroCup Center of the Year
2024-25 All-EuroCup First Team
At just 19 years old, Malonga (6-foot-6) is the pick here based on upside and potential. She has a unique combination of length, athleticism and refined basketball skills at her age. Malonga has played in France’s top women’s professional league since she was 15 years old. She averaged 15.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals per game during the 2024-25 season — already dominating the top level of French women’s basketball with plenty of room to grow her game.
The presence of Ezi Magbegor on Seattle’s roster allows Malonga time to develop. Head coach Noelle Quinn can either immediately insert her into the rotation or allow her to learn the game at her own pace throughout the season. They could also both see the court simultaneously in defensive sets. Malonga appears to be WNBA-ready, but selecting her this high is more so a pick for the future than the now. It’s a chance to develop a future superstar.
While an addition to the backcourt may have been the larger need, Seattle went with the best talent available.
“I will work,” Malonga said after she was selected, per the ESPN broadcast. “I will work very hard to fit in this league because I know that it’s going to be tough, it’s going to be hard, but I’m ready to work.”
Third Round
No. 1 (26th overall; from Los Angeles): Serena Sundell, PG, Kansas State
Accolades:
Two-time First Team All-Big 12 (2024, 2025)
2024-25 NCAA assists leader (262)
Sundell, despite going in the third round, absolutely has a chance to make the Storm’s roster this season considering their backcourt needs. The Storm likely didn’t even expect Sundell to still be available at this point in the draft. She is polished, productive and easily possesses the length needed to succeed in the WNBA (6-foot-2).
Seattle will need a distributor beyond this season if they can’t retain Skylar Diggins-Smith, who may also be nearing the end of her career. Sundell averaged 14.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.1 steals. While she’s never been a premier scorer, it’s an area Sundell has improved on steadily throughout her career.
An interesting connection: Sundell’s brother, Jalen Sundell, currently plays center for the Seattle Seahawks after going undrafted out of North Dakota State in 2024.
No. 4 (29th overall; from Washington Mystics): Madison Conner, SG, TCU
Accolades:
2024-25 First Team All-Big 12
2023-24 Second Team All-Big 12
2024-25 NCAA 3-point field goals leader (128)
The Storm were horrendous from beyond the arc in 2024, converting a league-low 28.8 percent of their 3-point attempts. How do you fix that? Bring in the best sharpshooter in all of college basketball last season. Conner converted an incredible 44.9 percent of her 3-point shots during the 2024-25 season and sunk an NCAA-high 128 shots from range.
Like Sundell, Conner’s unique skillset also gives her a legitimate chance to make the Storm’s final roster. Her scoring overall dropped from 2023-24, but her overall shooting percentage jumped more than 6 percent while her passing also improved. Conner averaged 14.4 points, 4 rebounds and 3.6 assists last season. If she can separate herself from the group in training camp, there might be a spot for her with Seattle.
No. 9 (34th overall): Jordan Hobbs, G/F, Michigan
Accolades
2024-25 All-Big Ten honorable mention
Hobbs is on the taller side for a guard (6-foot-3), which is why she projects as a hybrid in the WNBA. She doesn’t have the sustained production Seattle’s previous two third-round picks had during their collegiate careers.
As a senior in 2024-25, Hobbs totaled 13.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Her professional skill set may better suit her to the wing if she can improve her 3-point shooting — a skill she has, but needs to refine.
