Kenyan basketball star Madina Okot came off the bench as her Atlanta Dream defeated New York Liberty 83-65 in the WNBA regular-season finale at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday, securing the fourth seed and home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto, in the United States for the 81st United Nations General Assembly, attended the game in support of the 22-year-old and met her on the court afterwards, sharing a selfie and a brief conversation in Swahili.
"That was a very good honour. I appreciate him showing up," Okot told the Associated Press. "His presence demonstrated his support for sports in Kenya. I hope my journey creates more opportunities for girls aspiring to pursue careers in sport."
Born in Mumias, Okot did not start out as a basketball player. She played volleyball at Bishop Sulumeti High School before moving to Kaya Tiwi Secondary School in Kwale, where she was introduced to basketball in 2020. She joined Kenya Ports Authority while still in school and became the leading rebounder at the 2021 FIBA Africa Women's Champions Cup, averaging 12.3 rebounds per game. After a stint with Zetech Sparks, four visa denials delayed her move abroad before she joined Mississippi State for the 2024-25 season, averaging 11.3 points and 9.6 rebounds.
Okot later transferred to South Carolina, where she averaged 12.8 points and 10.6 rebounds and helped the Gamecocks reach the NCAA championship final. The Atlanta Dream selected her 13th overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Listed at 6-foot-6, she finished her rookie regular season averaging 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
