A 22-year-old from Mumias in Kakamega County is on the verge of making Kenyan sports history. Madina Okot and the Atlanta Dream made it to the WNBA Finals. Madina Okot, a centre for the Atlanta Dream, became the first Kenyan woman to reach the WNBA Finals, capping off a remarkable debut season in America’s top women’s basketball league. Okot was selected 13th overall in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Draft, a pick that came with serious financial reward. She signed a four-year rookie contract worth up to KSh 167 million, with her first-year salary protected under the 2026 WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, which brought significant improvements to player compensation across the board. How much does Madina Okot earn in the WNBA? Her base salary for the 2026 season stands at KSh 37.4 million. Across 42 regular-season games, the Kakamega-born star made two starts and averaged 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, solid numbers for a rookie finding her feet at the highest level. Postseason bonuses are separate from her regular-season pay, and the WNBA Finals now stand between Okot and a potentially life-changing payday.
How much will Madina Okot earn at the WNBA Finals? Should the Atlanta Dream go all the way and win the championship, Okot is in line to receive a reported bonus of KSh 7.8 million. That would bring her total 2026 earnings to around KSh 45.2 million. If the Dream fall short in the Finals, the bonus drops to KSh 2.6 million, putting her combined earnings for the season at roughly KSh 40 million. The financial outlook only improves as Okot settles into her career. Under her current deal, her salary rises to KSh 38.9 million in 2027 and KSh 42.8 million in 2028. By 2029, she could be earning KSh 48.4 million, subject to the team exercising their option. For a player who was born in Mumias, reaching the WNBA Finals in her first professional season represents more than just a personal milestone. It places Kenya firmly on the global basketball map. Did William and Rachel Ruto visit Madina Okot? TUKO.co.ke also reported that President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto were courtside in the United States to support Okot. A video of the couple embracing the basketball star after a game quickly stirred pride among Kenyans.
