COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley has landed a game-changing addition to her roster with the signing of Madina Okot, a 6-foot-6 forward transferring from Mississippi State, the program confirmed on Tuesday.
Okot, who visited campus over the weekend and officially committed on Monday, brings elite size, athleticism, and experience to the Gamecocks’ frontcourt. She averaged 11.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game during her lone season in Starkville while leading the entire SEC in field goal percentage at an outstanding 64.9%.
Her arrival fills a key need for South Carolina, which had been searching for a true post presence after losing several core contributors to graduation and the transfer portal. With an 8-foot-8 standing reach and a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Okot now becomes the tallest player on the roster and adds a much-needed defensive anchor in the paint.
Okot’s 2024-25 campaign included 12 double-doubles, with her most dominant performance coming in a 21-point, 23-rebound game against Vanderbilt. She also impressed in her matchup against South Carolina this past season, recording eight rebounds, two blocks, and four points.
A native of Kenya, Okot played at Zetech University before moving to the U.S. and joining Mississippi State. She has also been a consistent presence on the Kenyan national team from 2022 to 2024, gaining international experience that should prove valuable on the NCAA stage.
She is the second major addition for South Carolina through the transfer portal this offseason, joining former Florida State guard Ta’Niya Latson, another dynamic playmaker expected to thrive under Staley’s system.
With the loss of players like Te-Hina Paopao, Bree Hall, and Sakima Walker, and the expected returns of stars such as Joyce Edwards, Ashlyn Watkins, and Raven Johnson, the addition of Okot is a strong statement of intent for a South Carolina squad looking to stay atop the national conversation.
Coach Staley had hinted in March on the “Carolina Calls” radio show that she was targeting a true center from the portal. A month later, that vision has materialized in a big way — literally and figuratively — as Madina Okot prepares to suit up in garnet and black.
