The South Carolina Gamecocks made a dominant run through the women’s NCAA Tournament just weeks ago, aiming for another national championship under the leadership of Dawn Staley.
But instead of a storybook ending, their season ended on a sour note with a 23-point loss to UConn in the national title game.
Now, Staley’s squad is already making moves to bounce back stronger next season.
On Wednesday, South Carolina landed a major addition: Madina Okot, a talented 6-foot-6 center heading into her second NCAA season, announced her commitment to the Gamecocks after playing her freshman year at Mississippi State.
Okot shared her gratitude in an Instagram post, thanking the Mississippi State community for their support during the 2024-25 season.
Madina Okot averaged an impressive 11.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game this past season, all while shooting a stellar 64.9% from the field.
Originally from Kenya, Okot only began playing basketball in 2020—a late start that has scouts buzzing about her raw talent and sky-high ceiling. Before arriving in the U.S., she spent two years developing her game at Zetech University in Kenya, then made an impact in her freshman season with Mississippi State.
Now, she joins a South Carolina team that’s already loaded with talent. The Gamecocks recently added Ta’Niya Latson, the electric transfer from Florida State who led all of women’s Division I in scoring last season with 25.2 points per game.
Latson’s scoring prowess should take a significant load off Okot offensively, giving the rising sophomore space to thrive in her defensive and rebounding roles—areas where she’s already shown major promise. With Okot’s growth potential and Latson’s scoring punch, South Carolina looks poised for another deep tournament run.
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