Kenyan basketball sensation Madina Okot has taken another major step in her rapidly rising career after signing with Australian Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) expansion side Tasmania Jewels for the 2026/27 season.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsOkot was unveiled as the Jewels' second import and final signing for their inaugural campaign, with the move subject to league approval.This latest milestone comes just months after making history as one of the first Kenyans ever selected in the WNBA Draft, where she was picked 13th overall.Madina Okot achieves another WNBA milestone as Dream secure comeback winShe is currently enjoying her rookie season with the Atlanta Dream, where she has featured in 27 games, averaging 6.2 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting better than 60 per cent from the field.Tasmania head coach Claudia Brassard believes the 6-foot-6 centre is the final piece needed to complete a balanced squad ahead of the club's debut season."We have that good balance of experience and leadership, youth and hunger, but also playmakers, sharpshooters and interior presence. Okot is the final piece of our team; we'll be very competitive.##NAJAVA_MECA_9878689##Her game style is physical; her height and wingspan are intimidating. She'll give us a big presence inside the paint, an elite rebounder who can also help us defensively. She's relatively new to basketball and her upside is huge; she's only just scratching the surface,” Brassard said.Okot's journey to professional basketball has been nothing short of remarkable. She only picked up the sport in 2020 at the age of 16 after initially playing volleyball in Kenya.Reflecting on her transition, the towering centre admitted basketball quickly became a natural fit.KSSSA: From borrowing bus fare to watch volleyball, Mwitoti star dreams of building an academy back home"I was just out there playing volleyball. I don't really know if I liked it at that time, because that was the only sport that I played. I was just trying new things, and I ended up loving basketball.I think it was so easy to learn, and the things I was supposed to do, like learning to dribble, how to make a layup, I think it was so easy to learn, and I also think it was the person who was trying to teach me; they were so good at doing it,” Okot said.Her rapid development saw her begin her college career at Mississippi State before transferring to South Carolina, where she blossomed under legendary coach Dawn Staley into one of the top centres in college basketball.##NAJAVA_MECA_9878692##That growth culminated in her selection by the Atlanta Dream, where she continues to gain valuable experience alongside some of the world's best players."It is a very good experience of learning from the greatest and competing with the greatest players in the world, and I'm learning from the greatest coaches too," she said.Okot also revealed that Tasmania's culture and player-focused environment played a key role in her decision to join the expansion franchise.New era for WRC as FIA announces historic investment agreement"After talking to Izzy (Isobel Borlase), my teammate in Atlanta, and after having a Zoom with the coaches, they made everything so clear. I like the team's culture; I like how they take good care of players, and I just can't wait to meet you all,” she averred.She joins a Tasmania squad featuring experienced names including Steph Reid, Keely Froling, Darcee Garbin, Brooke Basham, Chloe Broomhall, Portia Chopping, Katie Deeble, Mia Jacobs, Gianna Kneepkens, Ava McDonald, Taylor Mole, Nikki Parker, Andie Smith, Georgia Taylor and Ella Tofaeono.The Jewels will make their WNBL debut on Thursday, 15 October, when they host Geelong at MyState Bank Arena, with Okot expected to play a central role as the club embarks on its first season.
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