Storm Rookie Dominique Malonga Commits to Unrivaled 3-on-3 League for 2026 Season

Seattle Storm’s Top Pick Secures Lucrative Offseason Spot with Unrivaled

The landscape of professional women’s basketball continues its rapid evolution, highlighted by a major commitment from one of the WNBA’s newest stars. Dominique Malonga, the highly touted 6-foot-6 French center selected by the Seattle Storm as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, has officially announced her plan to join Unrivaled for the 2026 season.

This decision, confirmed by the 3-on-3 league on Thursday, is more than just a scheduling choice; it signals a significant shift in how elite WNBA talent approaches the traditional offseason. By choosing the domestic, high-paying Unrivaled league immediately following her rookie year, Malonga is prioritizing career longevity and financial stability while staying close to home, bypassing the grueling overseas commitments that have long defined the WNBA offseason.

The Strategic Choice: Why Unrivaled Appeals to Top Rookies

For decades, WNBA players, including superstars, have relied on playing overseas—often in leagues in Europe, Russia, or China—to supplement their WNBA salaries. While lucrative, this practice leads to year-round play, known as the “WNBA treadmill,” resulting in physical burnout, increased injury risk, and limited time for rest and recovery. This dynamic is precisely what Unrivaled was created to counteract.

Understanding the Unrivaled Model

Unrivaled is a new, high-profile 3-on-3 basketball league founded by WNBA champions and MVPs Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. The league is designed to offer the highest average salary in women’s sports outside of the WNBA, providing a domestic, short-season alternative to international competition. The league aims to operate during the WNBA offseason, typically running from January to March.

Key features that make Unrivaled a compelling choice for players like Malonga include:

• High Compensation: Unrivaled reportedly offers six-figure salaries, rivaling or exceeding the pay many players receive in top European leagues, without the associated travel and relocation burden.
• Domestic Location: Being based entirely in the United States allows players to maintain their residence, access familiar training facilities, and remain closer to their WNBA teams and sponsors.
• Reduced Physical Load: The 3-on-3 format is less demanding than a full 5-on-5 season, offering high-intensity competition while minimizing the cumulative stress of a traditional overseas schedule.

For a rookie like Malonga, who is expected to be a cornerstone of the Storm franchise for years to come, securing a high-paying, low-impact domestic offseason job is a critical career management move. It allows her to focus on developing her game in a professional environment without the risk of injury that might jeopardize her WNBA contract.

Dominique Malonga: A Crucial Asset for Seattle

Malonga’s commitment to Unrivaled comes as she prepares for her inaugural WNBA season with the Seattle Storm. As the second overall pick, she carries immense expectations, particularly given her unique blend of size and skill. At 6-foot-6, she provides the Storm with a much-needed interior presence and defensive anchor.

Malonga’s profile includes:

• Position: Center
• Nationality: French
• Draft Year: 2025 (No. 2 overall)
• Role: Expected to be a key component in the Storm’s rebuilding efforts alongside established stars.

Her decision to join Unrivaled confirms that the league is attracting the most valuable young talent in the sport. The league’s ability to secure a commitment from a player drafted this high, even before she plays her first WNBA game, underscores its legitimacy and financial appeal.

The WNBA Offseason Revolution

Malonga’s move is part of a larger trend reshaping the relationship between WNBA players and their offseason commitments. Historically, the WNBA has struggled with the issue of player availability and rest, often leading to conflicts with overseas teams.

The Prioritization Clause and Its Impact

Starting with the 2024 season, the WNBA introduced a Prioritization Clause in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). This clause mandates that players must report to their WNBA teams by a specific date, or face penalties, including being ineligible to play that season. This measure was designed to end the practice of players arriving late due to deep runs in overseas playoffs.

However, the clause inadvertently created a financial dilemma for many players who relied on the high salaries of overseas leagues. Unrivaled, along with other domestic initiatives, has emerged as a direct response to this dilemma, offering a compliant and profitable solution.

“The goal of Unrivaled was always to provide a platform where players could maximize their earning potential while prioritizing their health and their WNBA careers,” said one source familiar with the league’s operations. “Securing a top rookie like Dominique Malonga proves that this model is the future for elite talent.”

Financial Context for Rookies

While WNBA salaries have improved, a top rookie’s salary is still significantly lower than what they can earn in a short overseas stint or in Unrivaled. For a No. 2 overall pick, the four-year rookie scale contract provides stability, but the opportunity to earn an additional six figures domestically in the offseason is transformative. This early financial security allows Malonga to enter her WNBA career with less pressure to chase high-risk, high-reward overseas contracts.

Key Takeaways for the Storm and the League

Malonga’s commitment to Unrivaled in 2026 is a positive development for the Seattle Storm, despite the potential for offseason competition. The benefits outweigh the risks associated with overseas travel and the potential for late reporting or serious injury.

• Reduced Injury Risk: Keeping Malonga in the US, under a controlled environment, minimizes the physical toll of constant travel and high-volume play.
• Consistent Training: Malonga can maintain a consistent training regimen and access to high-quality US facilities during the WNBA offseason.
• Marketability: Participation in a high-profile, US-based league like Unrivaled enhances her visibility and marketability to domestic sponsors.
• WNBA Trend Confirmation: This signing solidifies Unrivaled’s position as the premier domestic offseason destination for WNBA players, signaling a long-term shift away from the traditional European circuit for top-tier talent.

The WNBA and its teams are increasingly favoring domestic offseason play, recognizing that a rested, healthy star player is far more valuable than one returning exhausted from a year of continuous competition.

Conclusion: A New Era of Player Empowerment

Dominique Malonga’s decision to join Unrivaled for the 2026 season is a clear indicator of the growing power and financial savvy of the modern WNBA player. By choosing a league founded by her peers and designed specifically to address the long-standing issues of financial disparity and physical exhaustion, Malonga is making a strategic investment in her long-term career.

This move ensures the Seattle Storm’s future centerpiece will be well-compensated, well-rested, and ready to compete at the highest level when the WNBA season begins, marking another milestone in the professionalization of women’s basketball.

What’s Next

Malonga will focus entirely on her rookie season with the Seattle Storm throughout the remainder of 2025. Her commitment to Unrivaled will begin after the conclusion of the 2025 WNBA Finals, with the Unrivaled league expected to launch its second season in early 2026. Further announcements regarding the Unrivaled schedule and roster composition are anticipated later this year.