History-making Kenya’s basketball sensation Madina Okot is already making headlines in her debut season at the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) League.
The 21-year-old, who stands 1.98 metres tall, made history as the first Kenyan to be drafted in the first round of the WNBA Draft.
She has been named Player of the Game three times with the Atlanta Dream, which is topping the Eastern Conference with 12 wins and five losses.
Atlanta Dream might have lost to Las Vegas Aces 85-84, but it is in the match where the centre collected her first WNBA career accolades by claiming a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds on May 17.
"It means so much to me to get the opportunity to go out there and showcase my players against the greatest players, I mean A'ja Wilson is last season's MVP."
Atlanta Dream beat the Toronto Tempo 94-87 on Monday night for their fourth straight victory, where Okot came off the bench to score a career-high 18 points alongside seven rebounds, a feat that saw her named Player of the Game.
Okot was drafted 13th overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2026 WNBA Draft after a standout collegiate season at the University of South Carolina. She is gaining fame for her explosive rebounding, shot-blocking, and speed.
After coming up against the Las Vegas Aces that had the 2025 Most Valuable Player, A’ja Wilson, an elated Okot said: “It means so much to me to get the opportunity to go out there and showcase my players against the greatest players, I mean A’ja Wilson is last season’s MVP.”
She is the third Kenyan to play in the WNBA after Josephine Owino and Olivia Nelson-Ododa, who also went through the WNBA draft.
Owino, 42, was the first Kenyan to be drafted in the WNBA Draft third round in 2009 while Nelson-Ododa, 25, was drafted in the second round, 19th overall, in the 2022 WNBA Draft and went on to play for the Los Angeles Sparks.
–Ayumba Ayodi