“The female version of Victor Wembanyama” is how Tony Parker describes Dominique Malonga. The sincerest of compliments, as the reigning Rookie of the Year has taken the NBA by storm. Dominique is no less of a trailblazer, she achieved the historic feat of becoming the first Frenchwoman to dunk in an official game in a EuroCup Women game in October 2024. While being compared to Victor must be a special feeling, Malonga knows staying true to her identity remains vital to her development. “Being compared to Victor is nice because he’s a great player,” Malonga said. “The things that he’s doing are so amazing, so of course being compared to him is an honor, but I want to make sure that I don’t lose my identity in that and I still have my game. When I’m on the court I play as Dominique Malonga, not as Victor.”
Destined to carry forward her mother’s legacy, she even started playing basketball on the very court where her mother once honed her skills. While she wasn’t fond of the sport at first, she slowly developed an affinity for it. After her family moved to France, it didn’t take long for Malonga to gain recognition. In Paris, Dominique attended INSEP, a national training center and boarding school, which boasts an alumni of Tony Parker, Sandrine Gruda, and Boris Diaw. It was here that Parker first saw her play and invited her to join LDLC ASVEL (Lyon), the club he owns and operates. So you better take his evaluation seriously.
Who are Dominique Malonga’s parents? What do they do?
While Dominique’s athletic background is sure to impress, the family’s influence extends far beyond it. Both her parents have represented their respective countries playing basketball. Her mother, Agathe N’Nindjem-Yolemp, is a former professional basketball player from Cameroon and played at center for various European clubs, drawing the curtains on her career at Basket Catalan Perpignan Méditerranée in the French NF3 circuit. Her career gave Dominique first-hand experience in what it takes to excel at the highest levels of international competition.
Her father, Thalance Malonga, was once a national team player for the Republic of Congo but also boasts a significant political career. After he shifted away from his basketball career, he pivoted into medicine. He now serves as an advisor to the President of the Republic of Congo, blending elite athletics with public service.
Does Dominique Malonga have any siblings?
Dominque Malonga has no siblings. She is the only daughter of Thalance Malonga and Agathe N’Nindjem-Yolemp.
What is Dominique Malonga’s parents’ nationality?
Although Dominique’s father played for the Republic of Congo once, he is now a French national as per Lafont Presse, cheering his daughter on in the Blue, White, and Red. Her mother, on the other hand, is Cameroonian. Dominique was born in the hills of Yaoundé, Cameroon, and nurtured her love for the game here before leaving for Europe.
Like her father, Dominique is also French. She was the youngest player on a dominant roster that won the silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics. So while her international experience is sure to excite, the WNBA’s prioritization rule might present a hurdle. The rule, which went into effect in 2023, mandates that players with two or more years of experience join their WNBA team by the start of training camp or face a fine. In 2024, the rule became harsher, stating that three-year veterans must be in-market by the start of training camp or May 1, else they will be suspended for the entire season.
The stringent laws lead to a shift away from the WNBA at the international level. 2019 Finals MVP Emma Meesseman has not played in the WNBA since the 2022 season and has largely blamed the prioritization rule. “I’m a European player,” Meesseman, a Belgian who plays in the Turkish league, said in an interview with CBS Sports during the Paris Olympics. “Nothing is going to change that. So, if you make me choose between my national team or only giving me a couple of weeks or days [of] preparation, that’s never going to happen.”
While Dominique mustn’t worry for now, as she is a rookie and hence excluded from the prioritization rule. The current CBA expires following the 2025 Finals in November, after the players exercised their right to opt out, so barring any changes made by the league, Malonga’s career in the USA is expected to have a long life. As ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike is already calling her “the steal of the draft”, Malonga is set to dominate the league while others can only hope the Frenchwoman shows mercy.
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