Aliyah Boston is the biggest star to leave Dawn Staley’s system in recent years. She was the number one pick in 2023, was named the unanimous Rookie of the Year, has already made three All-Star appearances, and was named to the All-WNBA Second Team and All-Defensive Second Team in 2025. Her transition to the WNBA was pretty much seamless, and she is now getting back to her winning ways from college. The Fever promise to be a true contender next season after losing several players to season-ending injuries this past season.
In the offseason, Boston will play in Unrivaled and spend some time around her Alma Mater. The latter will help prepare one of South Carolina’s current talents for her move to the WNBA. Madina Okot could be a first-round pick in 2026 or 2027, depending on whether or not Dawn Staley can get her back for another year. Okot is technically a senior, but only in her second season of college basketball in the United States, as she played in Kenya before coming to Mississippi State and then South Carolina.
Okot will get a chance to work with Boston and learn as much as she can about the transition from college basketball to the pros. “We got Aliyah coming in next week and Madina is excited,” Staley said after her team’s win over Winthrop. “She’s super excited because she’ll work with her a little bit just to show her what happens at the next level.”
Madina Okot is the latest in a line of great bigs to play for Dawn Staley
Madina Okot is 6’6”, an efficient scorer on the inside, and a rim protector. She has only had one inefficient scoring game with the Gamecocks so far, shooting just 3-9 from the field against USC. She has also recorded three double-doubles already and amassed ten blocks over five games. Okot has all the skills that make for a talented traditional big.
Staley has a successful track record when it comes to developing bigs. Kamilla Cardoso left the program as the third overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Boston was the top pick in 2023, and A’ja Wilson is currently the best player in the world and on track to become the all-time W GOAT.
Okot already promises to be an interesting talent at the next level, but another year at South Carolina would certainly help polish her game and boost her draft stock. If she cannot get another year in college, working with Aliyah Boston and getting to pick her brain will certainly help prepare her for the pro level.