GSV draft prospects 8 & 9: Dominique Malonga and Sonia Citron
lots of time for these draft rankings to change
Don’t miss the index for the entire 2025 Valkyries Draft Prospects series.
Apricot: I am including all candidates that are put in the mock drafts because they are stellar prospects. However, guard your expectations. I question whether players will come out for the 2025 Draft if they have more college eligibility, because (1) there will be a new collective bargaining agreement for the 2026 season and they will likely want to enter the draft with the higher rookie salaries; and (2) with the rise of NIL deals, they may be able to make as much or more money than the WNBA by staying in college.
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Dominique Malonga, C, ASVEL (France pro)
Let’s be honest: As exciting as they are, expansion teams are typically not very good in their inaugural seasons. We still have an entire free agency period to navigate, but there’s a better chance the Valkyries land a franchise cornerstone in future WNBA Drafts than at No. 5 in this one.
With that in mind, Golden State should have no qualms about drafting a player who may not be a part of its initial roster, as long as they believe in their long-term potential. Malonga just turned 19 years old and may not be ready for the WNBA immediately, but at 6-foot-6 and with more than a few dunks on her highlight reels, she has the ceiling of a player who simply doesn’t come around very often. She’s currently averaging 19.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per game for the French basketball club LDLC ASVEL Féminin in EuroCup Women, and given how many international players the Valkyries chose in Friday’s expansion draft, they’d probably be more than happy to stash Malonga and let her develop.
ESPN:
Malonga, who turned 19 on Saturday, made the French Olympic team this year. With her size and potential, she could be a first-round pick even if she doesn't play in the WNBA in 2025. The defending champion Liberty, who have had recent success with European players such as Leonie Fiebich (Germany) and Marine Johannes (France), might see Malonga as a pick for the future.
After a first-round exit in 2024, Seattle looks to run it back. With that in mind, the Storm can afford to add a developmental prospect who may not come over to the States for the 2025 season.
At 18, Malonga had moments on France's national team during the Olympics, including seven points in eight minutes against Canada. It was with the French National Team that Malonga also played alongside Storm forward Gabby Williams.
Malonga's potential as a 6-6 two-way big makes this an interesting spot.
Malonga might sport the highest upside of any prospect in this draft class and the Mystics will be elated to land her at this slot. The 6’6 19-year-old big defends at a high level already overseas, altering shots at the rim with her incredible size, length and explosion. Malonga’s explosiveness and mobility suggest real offensive upside even if she’s farther away on that end.
She likely wouldn’t come over to the WNBA for a few seasons and her play with the French national team may complicate things. But Malonga is the level of talent worth swinging on, even if there’s a potential downside baked in. Defensive anchor bigs are far too valuable to overlook.
The expansion Valkyries do not have any players on their roster yet, and it's unclear what they'll prioritize in the draft. Will they want a big college name who can contribute right away and help put them on the map? Or will they target long-term upside, knowing that this will be a multi-year project? If it's the latter, Malonga could be the pick. The 19-year-old Frenchwoman may not come over to the W right away, but her combination of size and athleticism is rare, and she has tremendous potential, particularly on the defensive end.
Sonia Citron, SG/SF, Notre Dame
The Mystics are the only WNBA team currently without a head coach or general manager, so it’s anyone’s guess what their plans are between now and draft day. Citron, however, is the type of player who can make an impact on just about any roster. A 6-foot-1 wing who can shoot off the catch and operate in the pick-and-roll, Citron has a versatile offensive skillset that would benefit a Mystics team that’s currently a little short on ball handling. Defensively, she uses her length wisely, and would make for a great complement to ballhawks Brittney Sykes and Ariel Atkins.
ESPN:
We don't know yet if guard Diana Taurasi might return for a 21st WNBA season with the Mercury. Either way, Phoenix could look for more guard help if there is no strong post option available at this point in the draft. With fellow guard Miles back this season for Notre Dame, Citron's numbers might decline from last season's 17.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. But her potential as a versatile guard and 3-point shooter could make her a first-round selection.
It's a transformational offseason for the Fever, who look to build after snapping an eight-year postseason drought. They could seek help from down the road in South Bend, Ind.
Citron has enjoyed a fruitful career at Notre Dame. She was the ACC Freshman of the Year and earned all-conference honors as a sophomore and junior.
As they continue to build around Caitlin Clark, Indiana would be well suited to add a guard who rebounds well and is a capable shooter from the perimeter.
With their first pick of the first round, the Mystics added a long-term, developmental prospect. It would make sense to draft a pro-ready prospect like Citron, who will immediately slot in as an effective off-ball shotmaker and defender at the WNBA level. Citron makes excellent decisions (1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio), rarely putting the basketball in harm’s way.
She might not have enough slashing or advantage creation chops to develop into a high-end star, but Citron profiles as an impact complementary piece on great teams for years to come. Her excellent length, defense, off-ball movement and shooting will boost Washington now and in the future.
The Mystics currently do not have a coach or general manager, so we're doing some real guesswork here, but Citron is a player who can fit in any system or situation. She has good size on the perimeter, can shoot the ball from behind the arc and guards multiple positions. The Mystics need help on the wing and Citron is a very solid all-around player who should be able to help them there immediately.