HISTORY MADE: Madina Okot Becomes First Kenyan Selected in the First Round of the WNBA Draft, Taken 13th Overall by Atlanta Dream
In a landmark moment for Kenyan basketball, 6-foot-6 center Madina Okot has officially shattered a major glass ceiling, becoming the first Kenyan player drafted in the first round of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Atlanta Dream selected the South Carolina standout with the 13th overall pick of the 2026 WNBA Draft.
With this selection, Okot joins a highly exclusive lineage of WNBA players with Kenyan roots. She is the second native-born Kenyan to be drafted, following in the footsteps of Mombasa-born trailblazer Josephine Owino, who was selected in the third round (28th overall) by the Washington Mystics in 2009. She also joins US-born Olivia Nelson-Ododa—a player of direct Kenyan descent whose father, Sebastian, starred for the Kenya Morans—who was drafted in the second round (19th overall) in 2022. Okot’s first-round selection marks a historic progression for the nation’s basketball legacy on the global stage.
The Mumias native’s path to the professional ranks has been meteoric. Okot first picked up a basketball just six years ago in 2020 at Kaya Tiwi High School. Since then, she has rapidly ascended through the collegiate system, transitioning from Zetech University to Mississippi State, and ultimately commanding the paint for the powerhouse South Carolina Gamecocks.
During her final collegiate season at South Carolina, Okot proved herself as a premier frontcourt prospect. She averaged a dominant double-double with 12.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game while maintaining a highly efficient 57.5% shooting percentage from the field. Her elite rim protection, sheer physical presence, and finishing ability made her a major focal point for WNBA front offices leading into draft night.
From a commercial and broadcast perspective, Okot’s arrival in the league is already making waves. The Atlanta Dream immediately capitalized on her historic selection by placing her official 2026 draft jersey on sale. For the East African sports market, this represents a significant business milestone. Okot’s WNBA presence opens doors for substantial international merchandise sales, global brand endorsements, and a projected massive surge in local broadcasting interest and viewership as fans tune in to watch one of their own.
As the Atlanta Dream prepare to integrate their new center into the rotation, Okot’s transition to the professional stage serves as a major victory for the entire domestic sports ecosystem. It stands as definitive proof that homegrown basketball talent can successfully bridge the gap to the highest tier of global competition.
