She received four visa denials, now she is the first Kenyan drafted in the 1st round of the WNBA
The Atlanta Dream selected South Carolina center Madina Okot with the No. 13 pick in the first round of the WNBA Draft, becoming the second Gamecock chosen in the 2026 draft. The 21-year-old is also the program’s first post player to be drafted in the WNBA’s first round since Kamilla Cardoso in 2024.
Okot, a native of Mumias in Western Kenya, did not start her journey with basketball. Though tall and athletic, she was initially a volleyball player during her time at Bishop Sulumeti High School, far from the polished athlete she would become.
Her life took a decisive turn at the Kenya Secondary Schools Association (KSSSA) Games in Kisumu when Robert Avan, the principal of Kaya Tiwi High School, recognized her innate talent and presented her with a full basketball scholarship.
Despite the sport being new to her and the future unclear, it was a clear chance for success. Though it was a tough decision, she took the offer, believing Avan had seen a unique talent in her.
“We saw the player and went for her before any other team took note of her, amazing height,” Avan later said, according to Citizen Digital.
Okot started at Kaya Tiwi as a novice under coach Philip Onyango, mastering the fundamentals like footwork, positioning, and movement. Despite slow progress and frequent errors, her resolve was unbroken.
“She had the body, but the game had to be built step by step,” he said
Okot began her rise when selected for the national team at 17, while also excelling for the Zetech University Sparks under coach Maurice Obilo. After COVID-19 restrictions ended in 2022, her career advanced. She helped Kenya’s U23 3×3 team win the FIBA Nations League Africa (South), qualifying them for the World Championships in Romania. She then represented the senior team at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Playing alongside seasoned athletes, she proved her capability as Kenya defeated Sri Lanka 21–8 in the group stage. Though their run ended in the quarter-finals against England, she actively used the experience to learn, adjust, and improve.
“I had great learning experiences in Birmingham that helped me view the game differently, and one thing I took home is that you either adjust or you get exposed,” she reflected later.
Okot played for KPA at the FIBA Africa Women’s Champions Cup in Maputo that year and led the tournament in rebounding with 12.3 per game.
Despite her success and a dream of playing U.S. college basketball, the clearest path to the WNBA, her career was repeatedly hindered by four visa denials.
“It was painful, but I never believed it was the end,” she said.
During that time, she explained that faith became her focus.
“I learned that timing is not mine. It’s God’s timing,” she remarked.
READ ALSO: Jackie Young becomes WNBA’s first million-dollar player: report
Anchored by faith and patience, Okot persisted, finally gaining entry on her fifth visa attempt.
She first joined Mississippi State, making an immediate impact with her rebounding and interior dominance. Her defining chapter, however, was at the University of South Carolina, where legendary coach Dawn Staley refined her game by sharpening her defense, decision-making, and discipline.
When asked why she brought Okot into her system, Coach Staley described her as a dominant force and a “powerhouse” who is still only “scratching the surface” of her potential as a player, and she wanted to be the one to refine the rough diamond that she was.
“Coach Staley doesn’t allow shortcuts,” Okot once said. “You either grow or you don’t play.”
Okot’s journey continued as South Carolina advanced to the NCAA Finals, making her the first Kenyan ever to compete at that level.
“I always knew I would play at a high level,” she said. “I just didn’t know when.”
Okot is now the first Kenyan to be drafted in the first round of the WNBA. Josephine Owino was a third-round pick in the 2009 draft, while Kenyan-American Olivia Nelson-Ododa was a second-round selection in the 2022 draft, per FIBA.
According to Nation Africa, in her first season, Okot will earn $289,133 in monthly salary before improving to $300,698 the second year, $330,768 the third year, and $373,768 the fourth year.
READ ALSO: How this substitute teacher ended up with more than her WNBA dreams
