'i Cried So Hard' - The Kenyan Wnba Star Who Beat Us Visa Heartbreak

ByAnita Nkonge and Emmanuel Akindubuwa

BBC Sport Africa

On nan nighttime that changed her life, Madina Okot sat quietly.

The Kenyan was waiting, hoping and praying that her sanction would beryllium called astatine nan Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) draught successful New York.

"I was truthful nervous," she told BBC Sport Africa, reflecting connected those moments wrong nan venue connected 13 April.

"When I heard my name, it was for illustration a dream. Am I here? Am I really doing this?"

The 21-year-old did not person to hold agelong - she was selected successful nan first round, and 13th overall, by nan Atlanta Dream.

The 3rd Kenyan to beryllium chosen successful nan WNBA draft, Okot is nan highest prime ever from her country.

Perhaps moreover much impressive, nan centre, who stands 6ft 6in tall, has joined nan world's apical master convention conscionable six years aft rubbing a hoops for nan first time.

Her crippled blends physicality, tenacity and versatility, making her an businesslike scorer and a coagulated protect anchor.

But reaching nan WNBA has not been straightforward.

Okot's travel began acold from nan spotlight arsenic nan 5th of 8 children successful her hometown of Mumias successful occidental Kenya.

She initially excelled successful volleyball astatine Bishop Sulumeti High School successful Kakamega County earlier being persuaded to move crossed nan state successful 2020 to subordinate Kaya Tiwi Secondary, a schoolhouse connected nan eastbound seashore adjacent Mombasa which has produced immoderate of Kenyan basketball's biggest names.

"I was almost frightened to effort basketball," she recalled.

"But erstwhile I started playing I fell successful emotion pinch nan crippled truthful quickly."

Her earthy talent propelled her done Kenya's nationalist younker teams, pinch assemblage sides successful nan United States alerted to her imaginable aft she featured successful nan 3x3 hoops tourney astatine nan 2022 Commonwealth Games successful Birmingham.

However, getting into nan USA tested her resilience, arsenic Okot faced nary less than 4 visa rejections successful her bids to subordinate Troy University successful Alabama and past Eastern Michigan University.

"It was tough. I felt for illustration giving up respective times," Okot revealed.

"The second, 3rd and 4th 1 I cried truthful hard.

"I had a information defender taking maine to my [taxi]. I felt truthful bad."

Having questioned whether to proceed a process she described arsenic "so heart-breaking, truthful discouraging", Okot believes her parents' prayers and her ain resoluteness yet carried her through.

Relief yet came connected a time successful August 2024 that was already marked for celebration.

"The time that I sewage my visa was my birthday," she said pinch a wide grin crossed her face.

"That was my champion day gift I've ever got.

"I'm truthful grateful to my mum and my dada and everybody other that kept convincing maine to support trying."

It was 5th clip fortunate for Okot, who joined Mississippi State for 2024-25 earlier transferring to nan University of South Carolina successful April past year.

This play she led her convention successful rebounds - averaging 10.6 per crippled - and was instrumental successful nan Gamecocks' tally to nan nationalist title last earlier this month, wherever they were beaten 79-51 by nan University of California, Los Angeles Bruins successful beforehand of astir 16,000 spectators successful Phoenix.

Okot's first master run originates connected 8 May, pinch established stars specified arsenic two-time WNBA All-Star Angel Reese portion of nan Atlanta Dream roster.

"I've been watching her since I was successful precocious school," Okot said.

"I cognize she's going to beryllium for illustration a sister to me. She's going to thatch maine truthful galore things.

"My goals are to support increasing my crippled and to study from knowledgeable players."

Okot brings size and protect expertise but she is realistic astir nan accommodation required astatine nan sport's highest level.

And while she will besides person an African team-mate to thin connected for support, pinch Malian Sika Kone entering her 4th play successful nan WNBA, Okot understands nan value of her position arsenic a domiciled exemplary for players from nan continent.

"Honestly, it's a very large honour for maine to beryllium representing each those group backmost home.

"I conscionable want to fto them cognize that we (African women) really beryllium to immoderate stage. If you really perpetrate to activity and believe, it tin happen."

Okot describes herself arsenic quiet by nature, pinch a emotion for pinkish and achromatic colours, gospel euphony and ugali, a accepted East African nutrient made from cornflour.

Despite her years successful nan USA, it is simply a motion that she still sees herself arsenic nan caller presence connected nan scene.

"I'm truthful excited to meet nan players that I've been watching increasing up. But I still can't judge that it's maine doing this," she said.

"I'm conscionable excited to activity pinch them, study truthful overmuch and create memories."

Her emergence has travel astatine a clip erstwhile women's athletics is growing, but entree and resources stay uneven, particularly successful Africa.

Okot is truthful keen to accent nan value of difficult work.

"You don't person to person cleanable accommodation to start.

"Just enactment locked successful [and] don't extremity chasing your dreams.

"I conscionable want to beryllium a benignant of subordinate that young girls will beryllium looking astatine and beryllium like, 'I want to beryllium for illustration Madina'.

"There's ever personification watching. That is really group get opportunities."