Madina Okot, the 21‑year‑old Kenyan centre, stunned the WNBA draft by landing 13th overall with the Atlanta Dream. Standing 6ft 6in, she became the highest‑scoring pick from Kenya. The Dream added depth to their frontcourt, pairing Okot with two‑time All‑Star Angel Reese.

Okot's path to the pros was anything but smooth. Four visa rejections rattled her early college ambitions, forcing her to stay in Kenya and train with local squads. Her resilience paid off when a last‑minute visa clearance on her birthday in August 2024 paved the way for her draft selection.

During her lone season at South Carolina, Okot averaged a league‑leading 10.6 rebounds per game, steering the Gamecocks to a national championship final. Her dominant inside presence drew comparisons to seasoned WNBA bigs, and her arrival with the Dream adds a fresh African voice to the league’s growing diversity for fans.

Okot’s story resonates beyond the hardwood. After overcoming visa hurdles, she now mentors younger Kenyan athletes, proving that limited resources need not halt ambition. As the Dream’s rookie centre, she will test her skills against the league’s elite, potentially reshaping Atlanta’s playoff aspirations for the 2025 season in the coming.