Madina Okot was selected as the No. 13 overall pick in the WNBA draft by the Atlanta Dream after just six years of playing basketball. She recently played in her first NCAA championship game before entering the draft.
Madina Okot describes journey to WNBA draft pick after just 6 years of basketball
Just over one week ago Madina Okot was playing in her first NCAA championship game.
And now she's a first-round WNBA draft pick.
The 6-foot-6 center was taken No. 13 overall by the Atlanta Dream on April 13 after one season with South Carolina women's basketball and coach Dawn Staley.
"Honestly the past few weeks, the past month has been so hectic," Okot said. "There's been so much going on, being in the tournament, going from the championship game, coming back home, planning to travel to New York ... I was just a little bit nervous but right now I'm just so excited for the moment and I'm glad that (I'm) where I once prayed to be."
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Ta’Niya Latson of South Carolina arrives prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Madina Okot of Kenya arrives prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Ta’Niya Latson of South Carolina arrives prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Madina Okot of Kenya arrives prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Ta’Niya Latson of South Carolina arrives prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Ta’Niya Latson of South Carolina arrives prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Madina Okot of Kenya arrives prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Ta’Niya Latson of South Carolina arrives prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Madina Okot of Kenya arrives prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
On April 8 the program announced that the NCAA denied Okot another year of eligibility, giving her no choice but to enter the WNBA draft after just two college seasons in the United States.
She started playing basketball six years ago. When she was 17, she played 3-on-3 basketball for Kenya's national team then went to Zetech University (also in Kenya) before moving to play for Mississippi State during the 2024-25 season. She transferred to South Carolina last offseason.
"Just being here today means so much to me," Okot said. "Six years ago, I didn't see myself being here today ... my dream was to play professional or be in the W(NBA) but I didn't know it was going to be after six years. If I could go back, I'd tell my younger self '(I'm) so proud of her. She never gave up. She had to go through a lot and kept moving forward.'"
Okot was taken after point guard Raven Johnson was selected No. 10 to the Indiana Fever and before her shooting guard Ta'Niya Latson was taken at No. 20 by the Los Angeles Sparks.
She will head to Atlanta to play with Allisha Gray and Te-Hina Paopao. Both are former Gamecocks who transferred into Staley's program after starting their college careers elsewhere but were drafted out of South Carolina.
Okot will have another star in the front court with her in 6-foot-3 forward Angel Reese, who was drafted in 2024 by the Chicago Sky out of LSU but was just traded to the Dream on April 6.
Reese wrote on X, "YAY! MADINA!!! Another walking double double!! LET’S GOOOO!!!" after Okot was drafted.
"I'm so excited that I'm going to be able to compete against the greatest players that I've been watching, looked up to growing up," Okot said. "Just the fact that I already know I'm going to be beside Angel Reese, that is a very big blessing to me and I'm so excited to learn so much from her ... I'm sure she's going to teach me a lot."
Okot ended her college career averaging an SEC-best 10.6 rebounds along with 12.8 points for the Gamecocks.
She shot a team-high 57.5% from the floor and finished third in the nation with 22 double-doubles.
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Madina Okot ready to learn from Angel Reese in WNBA on Atlanta Dream
Madina Okot is a 6-foot-6 center who has played basketball for only six years, recently completing a season with South Carolina women's basketball.
Madina Okot was selected as the No. 13 overall pick in the WNBA draft by the Atlanta Dream.
Madina Okot was drafted by the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA draft.
Madina Okot played in her first NCAA championship game just over a week before being drafted on April 13.
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