Who is Madina Okot?

Madina Okot is a Kenyan basketball centre whose rapid rise has taken her from school sports in Kenya to elite college basketball in the United States and ultimately into the WNBA.

At 21, she emerged as one of the standout prospects of the 2026 WNBA Draft after a strong collegiate run at the University of South Carolina, where she developed into a dominant frontcourt player despite only beginning basketball in 2020.

Her trajectory is widely viewed as one of the fastest transitions from Kenyan school sport to elite professional basketball.

Madina Okot salary and WNBA contract

Okot’s breakthrough into professional basketball came with a major financial milestone.

She signed a four-year WNBA contract worth approximately Sh167 million (USD 1.29 million) with the Atlanta Dream.

Her rookie salary is reported at: Sh37.4 million (USD 289,133)

The deal places her among the most financially significant Kenyan basketball exports in history and highlights the growing visibility of Kenyan talent in global women’s basketball.

How tall is Madina Okot?

Okot stands at 6’6” (approximately 2.01 metres)

Her height is a defining feature of her playing profile, giving her an advantage in:

• Rebounding
• Interior defence
• Rim protection
• Post scoring efficiency

It also played a key role in her rapid adaptation after switching from volleyball to basketball.

Madina Okot origin: Mumias, Kakamega pathway

Okot’s early development began in Mumias, Kakamega County, where she attended primary school and built her early sporting foundation.

She later joined Bishop Sulumeti Girls Secondary School in Kakamega County, where she played volleyball and first attracted attention for her athletic potential.

Her transition into basketball began at Kaya Tiwi Girls Secondary School in Kwale County in 2020.

From volleyball to basketball

Before basketball, Okot was a volleyball player during her school years in Kakamega.

Her switch came at Kaya Tiwi Secondary School, where she was introduced to basketball and quickly adapted due to her physical attributes and coordination.

That transition marked the beginning of her accelerated rise.

The coach behind Madina Okot’s rise

A key figure in her early development is sports journalist and basketball coach: Philip Onyango Ombajo.

Ombajo is a sports writer who, until recently, was writing for the Daily Nation from Mombasa.

The teacher/journalist is associated with identifying her potential during school competitions and supporting her early transition into basketball within Kenya’s school sports system.

Her later development was refined through structured college basketball systems in the United States.

Career pathway at a glance

Mumias (Kakamega County): Early education and foundation

Bishop Sulumeti Girls (Kakamega): Volleyball development

Kaya Tiwi (Kwale County): Basketball transition in 2020

USA (Mississippi State → South Carolina): College breakthrough

WNBA Draft: First-round selection and Sh167 million contract.