On a warm April night in the United States, a name from western Kenya echoed across one of basketball’s biggest stages.
Madina Okot, a 6ft 6in centre from Mumias, became the first Kenyan to be drafted into the Women’s National Basketball Association, selected by the Atlanta Dream.
For many back home, the moment felt larger than sport. It was a signal that Kenyan talent can reach the highest levels of the global game.
A late start, a rapid rise
Okot’s journey is striking not only for where it has ended, but how quickly it began.
She only took up basketball in 2020. Before that, she played volleyball in school. The switch came during her time at Kaya Tiwi Secondary School, and within a few years, she had set herself on a path few could have predicted.
Her first steps in the sport were at Zetech University in Kenya. From there, she moved to the United States, chasing tougher competition and broader exposure.
She played two seasons with the Mississippi State Bulldogs before transferring to the South Carolina Gamecocks, one of the most competitive programmes in college basketball.
At South Carolina, she refined her game and built a reputation as a dominant presence in the paint.
Numbers that turned heads
Her performances during the 2025/26 season placed her among the most effective frontcourt players in college basketball.
She averaged 12.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, while shooting with notable efficiency. Her ability to control rebounds and contribute consistently made her a key figure in her team’s run to the NCAA championship final.
Those numbers helped secure her place in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Draft, where she was picked 13th overall.
In basketball terms, she is often described as a “double-double” player—someone who reliably delivers strong numbers in both scoring and rebounding.
Life in the professional ranks
Okot now enters a league known for its pace and intensity.
The WNBA features 12 teams and draws top talent from across the world. Players are selected each April, with teams choosing prospects based on performance, potential and team needs.
She is expected to join a growing core at Atlanta that includes established names such as Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray, as the team looks to strengthen its roster.
Her contract reflects recent changes in the league’s pay structure, which has improved earnings for new players following updated labour agreements.
A moment that resonated at home
Okot’s selection has sparked excitement across Kenya, with public figures and fans rallying behind her.
Journalist Larry Madowo urged Kenyans to show their support online, calling on fans to celebrate her achievement across social platforms.
For Okot herself, the moment carries a deeper meaning.
“This is not just for me,” she said. “It is for all of Kenya and I hope it makes us believe we belong at any stage.”
She has also spoken candidly about the pace of her journey.
“I honestly didn’t see myself being here today six years ago,” she said. “Every day I wake up, I feel like it’s a great opportunity to get what I once dreamt about.”
What comes next
Okot is expected to report to training camp later this month, with the new WNBA season set to begin in May.
The transition from college to professional basketball can be demanding. Expectations are high, and competition is intense.
But her rise so far suggests she is prepared for the challenge.
From a late start in Kenya to the bright lights of the WNBA, her story is still unfolding—watched closely by a country that now sees itself reflected in her journey.