Storm's Dominique Malonga receives clearance to play in 2026 WNBA season, report says

Seattle Storm second-year player Dominique Malonga, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft, received her letter of clearance from FIBA on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Alexa Philippou, making her eligible to play in the WNBA season.

Malonga, a French phenom who can dunk, has been in a contract dispute with Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe over whether the club would release her to play in the WNBA. The 20-year-old initially signed a three-year contract with the club in the summer of 2025, but it was later announced that Malonga had unilaterally terminated it.

The Storm's season is set to open May 8 against the Golden State Valkyries at Climate Pledge Arena.

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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 4:58 PM.