Okot eyes history as WNBA draft beckons

Kenya basketball star Madina Okot in action for South Carolina University during the NCAA Basketball Championship/HANDOUT

Okot Eyes History as WNBA Draft Beckons Kenyan basketball prospect Madina Okot is set to enter the WNBA Draft on Monday in what could mark a transformative moment for the country’s basketball scene.

Standing at 6’6”, Okot heads into the draft on the back of an impressive 2025/26 season with the South Carolina Gamecocks, where she established herself as one of the most productive frontcourt players in women’s college basketball.

She played a key role in the Gamecocks’ run to the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship final, competing at the highest level of the collegiate game.

“Madina brought so much to our team this year, both on the court and off. She is incredibly young in her basketball career, but her maturity and desire to improve her game go well beyond those years. We have seen so much growth from her over the course of the season, and everyone around our program is excited to see her thrive at the next level,” said head coach Dawn Staley.

Okot’s rise has been remarkably rapid, having only picked up the sport in 2020. She began her college journey in Kenya with Zetech University before moving to the United States, where she featured for the Mississippi State Bulldogs for two seasons prior to transferring to South Carolina.

“Sometimes I wake up, and I’m like, ‘Am I really here?’ Sometimes it feels like it’s a dream because of what I’ve been through to get here,” Okot said in an interview with The Athletic. “I’m just so grateful. Every day I wake up, I feel like it’s a great opportunity to get what I once dreamed about. I’m here. It’s just something to be grateful for.”

Okot’s blend of interior dominance and perimeter shooting has made her one of the most versatile bigs in this year’s draft class. During the 2025/26 season, she averaged 12.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, while shooting an efficient 57.5 per cent from the field and an impressive 44.3 per cent from beyond the arc.

She also recorded 22 double-doubles—tied for the most among players in Power Conference programs—further underlining her consistency and impact. As the draft approaches, all eyes will be on Okot as she looks to take the next historic step, potentially paving the way for more Kenyan talent on the global basketball stage.