DC Analytics Kenya

Knock knock! Who's there? Superstar. Superstar who? Superstar Madina Mullah Okot.🇰🇪 Don't know her or you just heard her for the first time? Stay with me because we're about to change that. In the year 2004, a village called Mumias in Kenya welcomed a bouncy baby girl. Madina Okot Mullah. Before 2020, Okot still didn't know if she could throw a basketball because she was still playing volleyball at Bishop Sulumeti High school. Madina started playing basketball after switching schools from Bishop Sulumeti High school in Kakamega to Kaya Tiwi high school in Ukunda. Standing 6 feet 6 inches, Madina had to be taught basketball from scratch. From dribbling, to the rules of the game and everything in between. This might be the best decision she has ever made in her life. The rise of Okot started at the age of 17 where she was among the chosen to represent Kenya's 3×3 U23 team at the Commonwealth games. Her performance in this competition attracted many including Eastern Michigan University. Unfortunately, her visa got delayed and as a result delayed her the chance to play in the United States. However, Okot was recognised by her country and was deservedly named at the Kenyan Sports Personality of the year award as the most promising rising female athlete in the country. As her Visa got worked out, Madina continued to put in the work at Zetech University for two seasons. She then signed for the Kenya Ports authority(KPA) team where she greatly helped them claim the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) League title. Her basketball journey suffered as another suspension, albeit short-lived, was issued in March 2021 due to a spike in COVID-19-positive cases. She took this as a blessing in disguise where she put in a lot of work behind the scenes as she needed to be able to compete at the highest level because unlike many players, she had started late. In 2023, her journey continued on an upward trajectory as the same team finished second at the FIBA Africa Women's Basketball team which also was named as the team of the tournament. Have I mentioned that this is the same year where she was the ONLY African player to be included in the Women's Team roster at the Nike Hoop Summit? And did I mention that she was the Most Valuable Player(MVP) at the 3x3 Africa Cup competition, and won the Africa Cup in the same year? In August 2024, her fifth visa was approved and she finally left Zetech University for Mississippi University in the USA.That year, Okot led Mississippi State to the second round of the NCAA tournament. She later joined the University of Southern Carolina for the 2024-25 season, a team that is a major prospect in producing top WNBA stars and under Coach Dawn Staley. Today, Madina Okot AKA Big Mama, leads the NCAA in double doubles(13) averaging 15.1 points, 11.3 rebounds on 60.8% FG for the top-flight South Carolina Gamecocks. She is one of the best players in the Women's NCAA Basketball. She's already a first round WNBA prospect, and will be the 3rd Kenyan after Josephine Achieng Owino and Olivia Nelson-Ododa, to be drafted to the WNBA, and definitely with the potential to become the most successful. Haven't figured things out yet? Feeling like starting over? Do it late, do it scared, but make sure you do it, just like Madina Okot.

Marion Serenge!