Six years ago Madina Okot was playing volleyball in Kenya. On October 15, 2026, she will tip off as the centerpiece of a brand new professional basketball team in Australia.
Kenyan basketball star Madina Okot is set to continue her rapid rise on the global stage after signing with Australian Women's National Basketball League newcomers Tasmania Jewels for the upcoming WNBA offseason.
The 21-year-old center will play for the expansion side until January 2027, after which she is expected to return to the United States to rejoin the Atlanta Dream ahead of the 2027 WNBA season. The agreement is still awaiting the league's standard approval.
It is the latest milestone in a career that has moved faster than almost anyone expected. Just months ago Okot made history by becoming one of Kenya's highest-drafted players in the WNBA when she was selected 13th overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Now she adds another first by becoming the first Kenyan woman to play professionally in Australia, and the face of Tasmania’s inaugural roster.
Tasmania Jewels confirmed that Okot will occupy the club's second import slot, completing the team for its debut WNBL season. For an expansion franchise, landing a current WNBA player with lottery-pick pedigree is a statement. For Okot, it is a chance to get more minutes, take on a bigger role, and return to Atlanta sharper in 2027.
Head coach Claudia Brassard welcomed the signing and made clear why Okot was targeted. She praised the Kenyan's ability to protect the rim, dominate the boards and provide a strong defensive presence, and said she believes Okot’s arrival will make the Jewels immediately more competitive.
At 6-foot-6 with mobility and length, Okot gives Tasmania exactly what new teams need, an anchor inside who can alter shots and finish efficiently.
"We have a great balance of experience, leadership, youth, and hunger, alongside playmakers, sharpshooters, and interior presence. Okot is the final piece of our puzzle, we are going to be very competitive.” the coach said.
"Her style of play is physical, and her height and wingspan are intimidating. She will give us a massive presence inside the paint as an elite rebounder who can dominate defensively. Given that she is relatively new to the sport, her upside is huge, she is really only just scratching the surface.”
Okot's efficiency has already been on display in the WNBA. Since making her debut, Okot has impressed during her rookie campaign in Atlanta.
Across 28 regular-season appearances she has averaged 6.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.3 blocks in approximately 9.5 minutes per game while shooting an impressive 59.8 percent from the field.
The numbers do not tell the full story. On July 11 she delivered a career-best 19-point, eight-rebound display against Portland. Eight days later she put up 14 points on 75 percent shooting against the Chicago Sky.
In limited time she has shown she can score, rebound, and change games without needing the ball in her hands.
Okot's journey to elite professional basketball has been remarkable. After switching from volleyball to basketball in 2020, she quickly rose through school and club competitions before earning opportunities in U.S. college basketball, eventually securing her place in the WNBA.
The Tasmania Jewels are scheduled to begin their maiden WNBL campaign on October 15, 2026, when they host Geelong at MyState Bank Arena.
