How Much Kakamega-Born Basketball Sensation Set to Make in WNBA Finals

Madina Okot has become the first Kenyan woman to play in the WNBA Finals, and the 22-year-old centre from Mumias, Kakamega County, could cap her debut season with a significant payday.

Okot was selected 13th overall in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream. She signed a four-year rookie contract worth up to KSh 167 million, with her first-year salary protected under the league’s 2026 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Her base salary for the 2026 season is KSh 37.4 million. Across 42 regular-season games, she made two starts and averaged 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, respectable numbers for a rookie adjusting to the sport’s highest level.

The Finals bonus is where the money jumps. If the Dream win the championship, Okot is in line for a reported bonus of KSh 7.8 million, pushing her total 2026 earnings to about KSh 45.2 million. If they fall short, the bonus drops to KSh 2.6 million, leaving her with roughly KSh 40 million for the season.

The upward trend continues regardless of the Finals result. Her salary rises to KSh 38.9 million in 2027 and KSh 42.8 million in 2028, and could reach KSh 48.4 million in 2029 if the team exercises its option.

For a player born in Mumias, the milestone goes beyond personal reward. It places Kenya on the global basketball map at a time when the country is still searching for its next international sports icon.

President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto were courtside in the US to support her. A video of the couple embracing Okot after a game stirred pride among Kenyans online.

The only question left is whether she ends her rookie season with a ring and a KSh 45 million bank statement.

https://www.tuko.co.ke/sports/645124-madina-okot-how-kakamega-born-basketball-star-stands-earn-wnba-finals/

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