President Ruto hails Madina Okot’s WNBA Selection, terms move inspiring

President William Ruto has celebrated the drafting of Kenyan basketball prodigy Madina Okot  into WNBA terming the move as inspiring and  one that fills the country with Pride.

On his official Facebook account The President hailed the move stating:

‘’We celebrate the remarkable achievement of Madina Okot, who has become the first Kenyan ever drafted into the WNBA. This historic milestone fills our nation with pride and inspires young Kenyan athletes to pursue their dreams. Your journey is proof that even the boldest ambitions are within reach’’

Madina Okot was selected 13th overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2026 WNBA Draft, held on Monday night, April 13 2026 at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City.

With this selection, Okot becomes one of the few Kenyan players to be drafted into the WNBA and the first to be selected in the first round, marking a historic milestone for Kenyan basketball on the global stage.

The 6’6” center enters the professional ranks following an outstanding 2025/26 collegiate season, most recently with the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Okot played a key role in helping the team reach the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship final, competing at the highest level of the college game.

Across the season, she averaged: 12.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, 57.5% field goal shooting and 44.8% from three-point range. She also registered  22 double-doubles, tied for the most among players in Power Conference programs.

Okot’s rise through the game has been nothing short of extraordinary, moving from picking up basketball in 2020 to reaching the professional stage within just a few years.

She began her journey in Kenya with Zetech University before transitioning to the U.S. collegiate system, where she first starred for the Mississippi State Bulldogs prior to her move to the South Carolina Gamecocks.

She now joins the Atlanta Dream adding size, versatility, and rebounding presence to a roster that includes WNBA All Stars Angle Reese and Allisha Gray to add to a competitive core in the Eastern Conference.

“I had to be Obsessed with details…. This is not just for me. It is for all of Kenya, and I hope it makes us believe we belong at any stage” ~ Madina Okot

Following the draft, Okot will report to training camp beginning April 19, 2026, as teams begin preparations for the upcoming season.

The post President Ruto hails Madina Okot’s WNBA Selection, terms move inspiring appeared first on KBC Digital.