Millions Madina Okot will make following WNBA selection
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Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 15.04.26. | 10:39
The deal places her among the first beneficiaries of the league’s newly improved pay structure under the latest collective bargaining agreement
Fast-rising basketball star Madina Okot is set to earn millions after securing her move to the Women's NBA, with details of her rookie contract at the Atlanta Dream now revealed.
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Okot, who was selected 13th overall in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Draft, the franchise’s first-ever draft pick, will sign a four-year deal worth up to $1.3 million (approximately Ksh168 million), according to Front Office Sports.
Her earnings will begin with a rookie base salary of $289,133 (approximately Ksh37.5 million), before steadily rising each season to $373,768 (approximately Ksh48.5 million) in her fourth year.
The deal places her among the first beneficiaries of the league’s newly improved pay structure under the latest collective bargaining agreement.
According to ESPN, the new CBA guarantees full salary protection for lottery picks in their first season, with additional protections expected to extend across the draft class.
This marks a significant shift from previous years, where such guarantees were only tied to fourth-year options.
The impact of the new agreement is already evident. The 2026 No. 1 overall pick is set to earn $500,000 (approximately Ksh64.5 million) in their rookie season and over $2.2 million (approximately Ksh283 million) across their contract.
This is a sharp contrast to Paige Bueckers, the 2025 top pick, who earned just $78,831 (approximately Ksh10.2 million) in her debut season, more than six times less.
The financial boon extends beyond rookies. During the 2026 free agency period, million-dollar contracts have become increasingly common.
Previously, Kelsey Mitchell held the league’s highest-paid player distinction, earning $269,244 (approximately Ksh34.7 million). The rookie minimum salary alone has risen to $270,000 (approximately Ksh34.8 million), underscoring the league’s rapid financial growth.
For Okot and her fellow rookies, the timing could not be better. They enter the WNBA at a moment of unprecedented financial security and opportunity, benefiting from a system that increasingly rewards talent and potential.
On the court, Okot arrives with an impressive résumé. The 6-foot-6 centre leaves the South Carolina Gamecocks as one of the most dominant post players in college basketball. In her final season, she averaged a double-double, posting 12.8 points and an SEC-leading 10.6 rebounds per game.
She recorded 22 double-doubles, the third-highest tally nationally, while guiding the Gamecocks to a 36-4 record and a Final Four appearance.
Her selection also holds historic significance, as she becomes the first South Carolina post player drafted in the first round since Kamilla Cardoso in 2024.
Okot’s journey to the professional ranks has been anything but conventional. Having only started playing basketball in 2020, she has rapidly developed into a modern centre, combining size with skill. Notably, she shot an impressive 44.8 per cent from beyond the arc this season, a rare ability for a player of her stature.
Her transition to the WNBA comes after the NCAA denied her application for an additional year of eligibility, confirming the end of her college career. However, she departs the collegiate stage at the peak of her value.
Analysts believe Atlanta’s decision to draft Okot was driven by both her immediate impact and long-term upside. With her defensive presence and expanding offensive range, she represents a cornerstone investment for a franchise looking to build for the future.