- President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto watched Madina Okot feature for Atlanta Dream in New York.
- The Kenyan rookie met the First Couple after Atlanta defeated New York Liberty 83-65 at Barclays Center.
- Jeff Kirui traces Okot’s rapid journey from school basketball in Kenya to the WNBA.
President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto watched Kenyan basketball star Madina Okot in action as her Atlanta Dream defeated New York Liberty 83-65 in the WNBA regular-season finale at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday. The victory secured Atlanta the fourth seed and home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.
Ruto, who is in the United States for the 81st United Nations General Assembly, attended the game to support the 22-year-old Kenyan, who is enjoying a historic debut season in the world’s premier women’s basketball league.
Okot came off the bench as Atlanta secured the victory. After the match, she met Ruto and the First Lady on the court, with the trio 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, adding that Ruto’s presence demonstrated his support for sports in Kenya. She expressed hope that her journey would create more opportunities for girls aspiring to pursue careers in sport.
For Okot, the moment represented another remarkable chapter in a basketball journey that began only a few years ago.
Born in Mumias, Okot did not start out as a basketball player. She initially played volleyball at Bishop Sulumeti High School before moving to Kaya Tiwi Secondary School in Kwale, where she was introduced to basketball in 2020.
Her progress was rapid. While still in school, she joined Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), one of the country’s leading basketball clubs, and soon began competing at national and continental level. At the 2021 FIBA Africa Women’s Champions Cup, she emerged as the tournament’s leading rebounder, averaging 12.3 rebounds per game.
She later joined Zetech University and played for Zetech Sparks, where she continued to develop while pursuing an opportunity to take her education and basketball career to the United States.
Her move abroad was delayed by four visa denials before she finally secured an opportunity to join Mississippi State for the 2024-25 season.
At Mississippi State, Okot established herself as a dominant centre, averaging 11.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game during the 2024-25 season. She later transferred to South Carolina, where she averaged 12.8 points and 10.6 rebounds and helped the Gamecocks reach the NCAA championship final.
Historic WNBA selection
Her performances earned her a place in the 2026 WNBA Draft, where the Atlanta Dream selected her 13th overall.
The WNBA lists Okot as a 6-foot-6 centre from Mumias. She was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 draft.
Her rookie season has seen her make a growing impact for Atlanta, with her size and rebounding ability earning recognition. She finished the regular season averaging 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
From her early days in school basketball to KPA and Zetech University, then Mississippi State and South Carolina, and finally the Atlanta Dream, Okot’s rise has been remarkably swift.
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Her journey has placed her among Kenya’s most prominent basketball exports and provided young Kenyan players, particularly girls, with a new example of what is possible on the international stage.
By Jeff Kirui
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