Madina Okot has made history. The 21-year-old center from Mumias, Kenya, was selected 13th overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2026 WNBA Draft, becoming the first Kenyan woman ever to be drafted into the league.
Okot only started playing basketball in 2020. Before that, she was a volleyball player. In less than six years, she went from learning the basics of a new sport to hearing her name called on one of the most significant stages in women’s basketball.
Her journey began with the Mississippi State Bulldogs before she moved to the South Carolina Gamecocks, one of the most respected women’s basketball programs in the United States. That decision changed everything. Playing under a winning system and against elite competition every week, Okot developed fast.
Standing at 6 foot 6, she uses her size smartly. She is not just tall. She is disciplined, well-positioned, and relentless on the boards. Last season, she led the entire Southeastern Conference in rebounds per game, a remarkable achievement in a conference known for producing professional talent.
Atlanta saw enough. Picking her 13th overall was a statement of belief, not just potential.
In Kenya, the reaction has been one of pure joy. Basketball is growing across the country, and young girls, especially now, have someone to look at and believe in. Okot’s story is not just about sport. It is about what becomes possible when talent meets determination and opportunity.
The WNBA will be a new challenge, faster and more demanding than anything she has faced before. But if her journey so far has taught us anything, it is that Madina Okot does not slow down.
