President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto attended a WNBA game in Brooklyn, New York. The two watched Kenyan-born basketball star Madina Okot play for the Atlanta Dream.
The game took place at Barclays Center on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Ruto was in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly session. However, he also found time to support Kenya’s rising basketball star.
Ruto Supports Madina Okot Courtside
Ruto and Rachel watched the Atlanta Dream face the New York Liberty from courtside. NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum and NBA Africa representatives also attended the game.
The Dream produced a strong performance against the Liberty. Consequently, Atlanta secured an 83–65 victory. The win also secured the Dream the fourth seed in the WNBA playoffs. Additionally, Atlanta earned home-court advantage for the opening playoff round.
Madina Okot Meets Ruto After Game
After the final whistle, Ruto and Rachel met Okot on the court. The trio shared a light moment before taking a celebratory selfie.
Okot later described the experience as a great honour. She also appreciated speaking Swahili with Ruto and Rachel. The moment highlighted Okot’s growing profile in international basketball.
Kenyan Basketball History
Okot joined the Atlanta Dream after making history during the 2026 WNBA Draft. Atlanta selected the 6-foot-6 center 13th overall in April.
She became the first Kenyan woman selected in the WNBA first round. Okot previously played college basketball for South Carolina. She also represented Kenya in international basketball competitions.
The WNBA lists Mumias, Kenya as her birthplace. It also lists her position as center.
Performance Against New York Liberty
Okot received limited playing time during Wednesday’s game. She played for just over two minutes and recorded one rebound. The official WNBA box score lists her with 2:16 minutes and one rebound.
Despite her limited minutes, the game marked another major moment. A Kenyan-born player had the President watching her compete in the WNBA.
Meanwhile, Atlanta now advances into the postseason with home-court advantage. The Dream will begin their playoff campaign on Sunday.
