DeWanna Bonner’s 2025 WNBA season was nothing short of dramatic. When she signed with the Indiana Fever, many believed she was the missing piece to lead the team to glory. But things quickly took an unexpected turn. Just nine games into the season, Bonner requested to leave the team, and despite fan outrage, the Fever granted her release to the Phoenix Mercury. While her decision drew mixed reactions, it appears to have struck a chord with Dominique Malonga, inspiring her own offseason move.

In the latest episode of the Mick Talks Hoops podcast, the host said, “I actually think DeWanna Bonner has completely broken the WNBA fans because Dominique Malonga just pulled a DeWanna Bonner type thing. She almost pulled a DeWanna Bonner, except unlike, the Fenerbahce did what everyone wanted the Fever to do. Which is not allow someone to quit on the team when they have a contract and try, and get the money back that they paid, and take legal action against the player for breaching the contract.”

Dominique Malonga had a rollercoaster 2025 season. After a slow start, she bounced back, becoming the youngest player in WNBA history to record a double-double and score 300 points. But late in the season, a wrist injury limited her impact on the floor, leaving fans wondering what could have been. Now, that impact might be felt off the court as well.

In a surprising move, Malonga has pulled out of her three-year contract with Turkish team Fenerbahce. While the injury may have played a role, analysts suggest her decision was also influenced by how DeWanna Bonner handled her exit from the Indiana Fever.

And now, let’s connect with what Mick meant. He explained that real fans want players to be accountable if they “quit” on their team. After Dominique Malonga backed out of her contract, the Turkish club said it would take legal action. That didn’t sit well with fans, who felt it was unfair to pressure a 19-year-old and even called for a boycott. Mick then brought up Kayla McBride, who recently joined the club, as an example of doing things the right way.

Mick also referred to multiple players who are dealing with an injury, but are still planning to honor their contracts. He gave the example of Jonquel Jones, who has not asked for an out because of the injury. Rather, she has committed to joining the team after she is healthy. Regardless, now that Malonga has decided to opt out of her contract, it will be interesting to see what the ramifications could be. The most probable option at the moment looks to be paying a buyout amount and settling the dispute. It seems highly unlikely that she will be back playing for them, especially with the rumor mill.

How can joining Unrivaled benefit Dominique Malonga?

Although nothing has been confirmed as of now, the rumors around the WNBA community are hinting heavily towards the French center to join the second season of Unrivaled. After an incredibly successful debut season, there are a lot of expectations for season 2 of the 3×3 basketball league. Sure, there is a lot of financial upside to joining the league, but for young players like Dominique Malonga, the benefits are much more than just a bonus payday.

Playing in a competitive league like Unrivaled can add another dimension to her game. Even though she ended the season strongly, her numbers throughout the season were not worthy of a second overall pick. She ended the season averaging just 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Competing against some of the best players in the WNBA will surely improve her game and increase her skill set. Another factor that could improve massively is her playmaking.

We have already seen how playing 3×3 basketball helped Angel Reese improve her playmaking. She went on from averaging 1.9 assists per game to 3.7 assists per game. Dominique Malonga is going to be a central piece to the Seattle Storm’s future. Having a leader who can involve the entire team can be a great advantage for the Seattle franchise.