President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto attended a WNBA game in Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, to support Kenyan-born basketball star Madina Okot. The President and the First Lady watched from courtside as Okot’s Atlanta Dream faced the New York Liberty at Barclays Center during Ruto’s visit to New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The Atlanta Dream secured an 83-65 victory over the Liberty, with Okot featuring for slightly more than two minutes and recording a rebound.
Ruto Meets Madina Okot
Following the game, Ruto and Rachel met Okot on the court and shared a memorable moment with the Kenyan basketball star. Ruto also took a selfie with the First Lady and Okot, highlighting the meeting between Kenya’s leadership and one of the country’s newest representatives on the international basketball stage.
Ruto said he had attended the match specifically to support the Kenyan-born player, who is currently in her debut WNBA season with Atlanta. Okot later described the President’s presence as an honour, saying the support could help create more opportunities for other Kenyan girls seeking to pursue careers in sport.
Madina Okot Makes Kenyan Basketball History
Okot has attracted considerable attention in Kenya after making history in the 2026 WNBA Draft. The Atlanta Dream selected her 13th overall in the first round, making her the first Kenyan woman to be drafted into the WNBA. Her journey to professional basketball began in Kenya before she continued her development in the United States.
Okot played college basketball at Mississippi State before transferring to the University of South Carolina. Her performances at the collegiate level helped raise her profile ahead of the WNBA Draft. Her selection by Atlanta marked another major milestone in her career and placed Kenyan basketball on one of the world’s biggest women’s basketball platforms.
From Kenya to the WNBA
Okot’s rise has also drawn attention because of how quickly she progressed in basketball. She initially played volleyball before taking up basketball in 2020. Her development eventually led to opportunities in Kenyan basketball before she moved to the United States for college basketball.
Her emergence in the WNBA has provided a new source of visibility for women’s basketball in Kenya, with her story highlighting the possibilities available to young athletes who pursue the sport. For Okot, having Kenya’s President and First Lady present at one of her WNBA games added another significant moment to her debut professional season.
Ruto’s Visit to New York
The President’s appearance at the game came during his visit to New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly. Ruto had earlier addressed the UN General Assembly, where he spoke about reforms to global institutions, Africa’s representation at the United Nations Security Council and changes to the international financial system.
His decision to attend the WNBA game also brought attention to Kenya’s sporting talent while he was in the United States for the international gathering. The meeting between Ruto, Rachel and Okot offered a high-profile moment for Kenyan sports, with the basketball star continuing to make her mark in the WNBA.
