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. " 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.