Madina Okot is a Kenyan professional basketballer whose journey from Mumias to the United States has made her one of the most successful East African athletes in women’s basketball.
She was selected 13th overall in the 2026 Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Draft by the Atlanta Dream, becoming the first Kenyan woman to officially reach and play at that WNBA level.
She follows in the footsteps of Josephine Owino, who was drafted in 2009 by the Washington Mystics but did not make the final roster.
Her rise through the U.S. college basketball ranks, featuring for Mississippi State and later the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball program, has made her one of the most closely followed Kenyan basketball exports in recent years.
Madina Okot Family and Education
Madina Okot was born on August 23, 2004, in Mumias, Kenya. She is the fifth born to a family of eight and a daughter to Jacquiline Sikuku and Musa Mulah Masai
Her three elder brothers include Abdalah Mukoya, Issa Mullah, and Haji Mulah, and four sisters, Azina Mulah, Waida Nechesa, Sheilah Nafula, and Zainab Zelfah
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Okot has played basketball for four years since 2020.
She attended Kaya Tiwi Secondary School, where she first developed her structured basketball foundation under coach Philip Onyango.
Before fully committing to basketball, Okot initially played volleyball at Bishop Sulumeti High School.
In January 2023, she joined Zetech University to study for a Diploma in Education, Business Administration and Management (General), which she completed in August 2024.
She then joined Mississippi State University in August 2024, pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Business Administration and Management, General, which she is expected to complete in August 2026.
Basketball Career Development in Kenya and Mississippi State
Okot’s formal basketball journey began at Kaya Tiwi Secondary School, where she trained under coach Philip Onyango.
Her height and natural physical presence made her stand out in the interschool competitions.
Her breakthrough in the United States came with the Mississippi State Bulldogs women’s basketball.
During the 2024–25 NCAA season, Okot made an immediate impact. She played and started in all 34 games, establishing herself as a consistent starter in one of the most competitive conferences in college basketball, the SEC.
She averaged 11.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game, while playing 22.6 minutes per contest.
One of her most impressive statistical achievements was her 64.9% field goal percentage, which ranked first in the SEC and fourth in the entire NCAA Division I women’s basketball landscape.
She scored in double figures in 22 games and recorded 20 or more points in two contests.
Her season-high scoring performance came against UMES, where she posted 26 points on December 20.
Okot also delivered elite rebounding performances, grabbing 5 or more rebounds in 31 games and 10 or more in 17.
She finished as the team leader in rebounds and ranked among the top rebounders in the SEC. Defensively, she contributed with steals and blocks, leading the team in blocks over 16 games and maintaining strong defensive consistency throughout the season.
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She also recorded 12 double-doubles, including a standout performance against Vanderbilt, where she registered 21 points and 23 rebounds, marking her first career 20–20 game.
Following her strong season at Mississippi State, Okot transferred to the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball program, one of the most successful programs in NCAA women’s basketball under coach Dawn Staley.
At South Carolina, Okot continued to develop as a defensive anchor and interior force. She contributed to the team’s deep postseason run, which included national Final Four coverage and high-level NCAA tournament performances.
Her role focused on rebounding, rim protection, and providing physical presence in the paint against elite opposition.
