Imago
June 25, 2026, Seattle, Washington, USA: Seattle Storm guard FLAUJAE JOHNSON 4 and center DOMINIQUE MALONGA 14 speak at the post-game press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz following the WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA match between the Seattle Storm and New York Liberty at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Seattle USA - ZUMAd218 20260625_zsp_d218_036 Copyright: xRichardxDizonx
Seattle Storm center Dominique Malonga is done pretending the "Female Wemby" nickname doesn't get old.
Appearing on the latest episode of Sue Bird's Bird's Eye View, Malonga added that the label — first popularized by 4x NBA champion Tony Parker — has followed her a lot longer than she ever expected.
"I started to be famous because Tony started calling me 'female Wemby,' and so that narrative is still on until today. So, like every time I would see him, I was like, okay, I'm fed up of doing this, so I call me that," Malonga told Sue Bird with a laugh.
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July 4, 2026, Seattle, Washington, USA: Seattle Storm center DOMINIQUE MALONGA 14 shoots a field goal over Portland Fire forward EMILY ENGSTLER 21 in the fourth quarter of the WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA match between the Seattle Storm and Portland Fire at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Seattle USA - ZUMAd218 20260704_zsp_d218_015 Copyright: xRichardxDizonx
Malonga then praised Victor Wembanyama and expressed that it's an honor to be compared to him.
Hearing that, Sue Bird flipped the label back, saying, "He's the Male Dom… He's the Male Dom!" It left Malonga laughing.
The Storm's rising star explained why the Wembanyama comparisons come from a place of genuine admiration.
"Those little anecdotes are really nice because at the end of the day, he's an amazing player and I'm kind of proud that we get to be on the biggest stage and do what we're doing," Malonga told Bird on YouTube.
She believes the calm way he carries himself is real and that his work ethic is just as serious as it looks from the outside.
Wembanyama is still very young. Yet, Malonga said, he often looks and acts like a veteran because of how much care he puts into his training, his consistency, and his preparation.
That is something Malonga finds very inspiring.
Dominique Malonga is having a breakout season of her own
The best way for Malonga to escape the comparison may be the one she's currently doing.
In her second WNBA season, Malonga has taken the leap many expected, but few thought would arrive this fast.
She is averaging 17.2 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists a night. She shoots an efficient 49% from the field and a career-high 32.8% from three-point range.
Those numbers earned her first WNBA All-Star selection this summer.
Her season is filled with unforgettable record-breaking moments. In June, Malonga outdueled the Dallas Wings for a career-high 37 points. It made her the youngest player in WNBA history to score 30 or more points in a single game.
She also became the youngest player in league history to reach 300 career defensive rebounds, passing legend Lauren Jackson, per WNBA Roundtable.
On top of that, she is the third-youngest player ever to reach 100 made free throws.
Wembanyama, for his part, is making the comparison a compliment worth chasing.
He closed out the 2025-26 season averaging 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 3.1 blocks per game. He carried San Antonio to the NBA Finals and earned his first Defensive Player of the Year award.
Read more on Her Sports Nation.
Written by
Md Saife Fida