The transition from college basketball to the WNBA isn't exactly easy. With how little time players have from when they are drafted to when they have to start playing in the big-leagues, even the most talented college players struggle when making the adjustment.
One player that's making it look relatively easy is former South Carolina Gamecocks star center Madina Okot. Okot, drafted by the Atlanta Dream in the first round of the WNBA draft earlier this month, made her preseason debut with the Dream on Wednesday night. Facing the Chicago Sky on the road in the preseason, Okot scored her first career double-double in her first game action for her new team.
Okot finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and another two blocks as her team won 87-78 on the road. Okot's newest teammate, former Sky star Angel Reese, added 11 points of her own with seven boards and two assists. It was Reese's first return trip to Chicago since the Sky traded her to Atlanta in early April.
Rookie Madina Okot, the No. 13 pick in the #WNBADraft, made a statement in tonight’s @AtlantaDream win, recording a double-double in her preseason debut! 👏
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 30, 2026
14 PTS | 11 REB#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/sCActEAYOX
Even Okot's former coach, Dawn Staley, gave her former star a shoutout on her debut:
She’s made us so proud! Madina “Big Mama” Okot is that double double queen still!!! Let’s gooooooo!! https://t.co/3eGQ8Icwqo
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) April 30, 2026
She even earned high praise from Dream head coach, Karl Smesko:
I asked @AtlantaDream HC Coach Smesko about his impressions of rookie center Madina Okot after her first preseason game. Okot finished with a double-double of 14 points, 11 rebounds in the #Dream 87-78 win vs. Sky:
— Wilton C. Jackson II (@WiltonReports) April 30, 2026
"I think she's a great talent. I think she's going to be really,… https://t.co/0cGQeUEmqS
It's obviously very early in her career, but it's encouraging to see Okot adjusting so well, especially after just two seasons of DI college basketball.
Atlanta will have one other preseason game on May 3 against the Washington Mystics before the WNBA's regular season starts Friday, May 8. The Dream will open their season on Sunday, May 10 on the road against the Minnesota Lynx.
Congrats to Okot on your first career double-double in the W!
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