Madina Okot can get the last laugh vs. the NCAA and become a first-round WNBA pick

South Carolina women's basketball star Madina Okot's time in Columbia is over. On Wednesday, the NCAA denied the star Gamecock center's appeal for an additional year of eligibility. 

Okot, who is originally from Mumias, Kenya, had been seeking a waiver to get an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA. She spent the 2024-25 season at Mississippi State before transferring to South Carolina for this past season. 

Prior to playing for the Bulldogs, Okot played two seasons at Kaya Tiwi Secondary School and Zetech University in Kenya. South Carolina believed that given that these are not NCAA-associated institutions, that she could earn an additional year. 

Instead, the NCAA denied Okot's petition. In recent years that have seen the likes of Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia granted additional seasons, the decision is disheartening. 

“Early in her basketball career, Madina made courageous choices not just to pursue just the sport, but also to better her life,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said in a statement on Wednesday. “Her path included just a short time with us in Columbia, but we are grateful to be part of her story. She made our team and our sport better.”

Now, Okot will turn her sights on the WNBA. Players who played in Sunday's national championship game had 48 hours to declare for the WNBA Draft, so time was of the essence for the Gamecocks star. 

With the NCAA's decision now known, Okot can begin preparing for the draft. The good news is that one projection has Okot going in the first round. 

In ESPN's most latest WNBA mock draft released Wednesday, Michael Voepel has Okot going in the first round. He has her going No. 15 overall to the Connecticut Sun

"She will have to learn more quickly in the WNBA," Voepel writes. "But she has the talent to do so. She averaged 12.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.4 blocks for the national runner-up Gamecocks."

The Sun, which was purchased by Houston Rockets owner Tilman Feritta, will move to Houston next year. The team has been playing out of Connecticut since 2003.  

Per Spotrac, late first-round picks this year mare expected to make between $329-315,000. It's unknown how much Okot was making in NIL money and endorsements at South Carolina, but her new WNBA salary would likely be a hefty pay raise. 

Everyone would love to see Okot have one more season in Columbia, and it's disappointing that we won't. But seeing her career get started in the WNBA isn't too shabby a consolation prize.