Dominique Malonga Dunks Into WNBA All-Star Game History as International Stars Take Over
Jul 25, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Team Coop center Dominique Malonga (14) shoots in the second half against Team Spoon during the 2026 WNBA All Star Game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
The United Center in Chicago had barely settled into the rhythm of the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game when history was made. In the second quarter, Angel Reese found Dominique Malonga with a perfectly timed alley-oop, and the 20-year-old French center threw it down — becoming the youngest player ever to dunk in All-Star Game history. The crowd of 19,783, itself a record, erupted.
Stats 2026-2027 / WNBAPTS 16,3 #20 REB 8,5 #12 PD 1,6 #87
It was the first All-Star dunk since Sylvia Fowles in 2022, and it came from a player who, just one year ago, was a rookie averaging 14.3 minutes per game. Malonga, the 6’6″ Seattle Storm center selected 2nd overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, is now averaging 16.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game in 2026, with a career-high 37 points already on her résumé this season. Paige Bueckers, who faced Malonga in Unrivaled, put it simply after the game: « She makes it look easy. »
Not over this dunk by Dominique Malonga 😅
Let's run it back in #PhantomCam!#WNBAAllStar2026 | @ATT pic.twitter.com/U1HhgJecs1
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 26, 2026
Jonquel Jones Leads Team Spoon to Victory
Team Spoon defeated Team Coop 129-122, with Jonquel Jones claiming All-Star MVP honors and earning an A+ grade from ESPN. The New York Liberty star from the Dominican Republic is one of the league’s elite two-way players and a two-time WNBA champion — a fitting headliner for a game that showcased the depth of international talent now shaping the league.
Stats 2026-2027 / WNBAPTS 14,8 #30 REB 9,2 #8 PD 2,5 #53
France’s Gabby Williams started the All-Star Game, capping a season in which she is averaging 11.5 points and 4.1 assists per game. The versatile 6’1″ forward has been a fixture in the WNBA since 2017, and her presence alongside Malonga underlines just how far French basketball has come. The 2026 season marks an unprecedented moment for France: Malonga, Williams, Janelle Salaün, Iliana Rupert and Leila Lacan are all simultaneously active on WNBA rosters.
Gabby Williams (Golden State Valkyries) - Janelle Salaün (Golden State Valkyries) · WNBA 2026-2027Gabby Williams Janelle Salaün GP 26 27 PTS 14.8 12.8 REB 3.3 4 AST 2.2 1.1 STL 1.7 0.7 BLK 0.2 0.1
Salaün, a rookie, is already posting 11.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in one of the most efficient first seasons in recent memory. Rupert is contributing 8.8 points and 3.7 rebounds. The French wave is no longer a curiosity — it is a structural reality of the modern WNBA.
A Truly Global League
The international footprint extends well beyond France. Brazil’s Kamilla Cardoso is the centerpiece of the Chicago Sky‘s rebuild. The 22-year-old center won Rookie of the Year last season and is now averaging 13.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in 2026. At just 22, Cardoso has already established herself as one of the league’s most dominant interior players, combining size, athleticism, and developing offensive skills that make her a cornerstone franchise player for years to come.
Stats 2026-2027 / WNBAPTS 14,1 #38 REB 8,4 #13 PD 2,6 #46
Belgium’s veteran presence brings championship pedigree to the league. Emma Meesseman, with her extensive international experience, is posting 11.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Her compatriot Julie Allemand operates as a floor general and playmaking guard, averaging 4.9 assists and bringing the kind of European basketball intelligence that has become increasingly valuable in the modern WNBA. Together, they represent the backbone of Belgian basketball’s growing influence in the league.
Emma Meesseman (New York Liberty) - Julie Allemand (Los Angeles Sparks) · WNBA 2025-2026Emma Meesseman Julie Allemand GP 17 34 PTS 13.4 5.4 REB 5.1 3.7 AST 3.2 5 STL 1.2 1.3 BLK 0.8 0
Australia’s twin towers of Alanna Smith and Ezi Magbegor anchor defenses nightly. Smith is averaging 9.2 points and 5.1 rebounds, while Magbegor contributes 7.8 points and a team-leading 6.1 rebounds per game. Both are elite defenders and rebounders, the kind of role players that championship teams are built around. The Australian presence in the WNBA continues to grow, with both players becoming increasingly integral to their teams’ success.
Germany’s Leonie Fiebich is carving out a rising role off the bench. The sharpshooter is averaging 8.4 points and 3.6 rebounds, developing into a key role player who can stretch defenses and provide spacing for her team. Fiebich represents the next wave of European talent — not a star, but a reliable, skilled contributor who makes her team better every night.
Meanwhile, Nneka Ogwumike earned her 11th All-Star selection, tying Diana Taurasi for 2nd most in WNBA history — only Sue Bird, with 13, has more. The veteran Nigerian-American forward is a four-time All-WNBA selection and one of the greatest to ever play the position. It was a reminder that alongside the rising international generation, the league’s greatest veterans are still very much present.
The 2026 WNBA season is increasingly being described as the start of a defining new era. Malonga’s dunk was spectacular, but it was also symbolic — a young French center, barely 20 years old, announcing herself on the biggest stage. The world has arrived in the WNBA, and it is not leaving.
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