Historic moment as Kenya’s Madina Okot joins Atlanta Dream in WNBA draft

In a landmark moment for Kenyan basketball, 21-year-old Madina Okot Mullah has been drafted 13th overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2026 WNBA Draft held on Monday, April 13, 2026, in New York City.

The 6-foot-6 centre becomes the highest-drafted Kenyan player in WNBA history and only the third Kenyan woman to be selected into the league via the draft, following Josephine Owino and Olivia Nelson-Ododa.

From Kenya To WNBA

Okot’s journey stands out as one of the most rapid rises in modern basketball. She only began playing the sport seriously around 2020 after joining Zetech University in Kenya, before moving to the United States to further her career.

She went on to feature at Mississippi State before transferring to the University of South Carolina, where she played under coach Dawn Staley and helped the Gamecocks reach the 2026 NCAA Final Four.

Despite a denied petition for extra eligibility, she declared for the WNBA Draft and quickly emerged as a strong first-round prospect.

Strong college impact

Across her NCAA career, Okot played 73 games, starting 70, and averaged 12.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 60.6% from the field.

Her 2025–26 season at South Carolina stood out, where she averaged 12.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, leading the SEC in rebounding and recording 22 double-doubles.

At Mississippi State, she also impressed, averaging 11.3 points and 9.6 rebounds in her junior season, including a standout 21-point, 23-rebound performance.

Rising draft prospect

Okot earned All-SEC Second Team honours in 2025–26 and was a top-five finalist for the Lisa Leslie Award, given to the best center in women’s college basketball.

Her size, efficiency, rebounding strength, and rapid development as a late starter made her one of the most closely watched prospects in the draft.

.She will join a revamped Atlanta Dream frontcourt that now features two-time WNBA All-Star Angel Reese, who was acquired by the Dream in a major trade from the Chicago Sky just days before the draft.

You might also like

Sports

Madina Okot and Atlanta Dreams suffer defeat in East Conference top-table clash

Sports

Kenyan Madina Okot extends winning run with WNBA team, Atlanta Dream