Okot Ranked Among Top Centers in the Nation

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina sophomore Madina Okot earned a spot on the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Preseason Top 20 Watchlist, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in partnership with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today. Two previous Gamecocks have won the award a combined five times in its eight-year history.

Okot’s selection also gives the Gamecocks a player on each of the Women’s Starting Five watch lists after Raven Johnson (Nancy Lieberman), Ta’Niya Latson (Ann Meyers Drysdale), Maryam Dauda (Cheryl Miller) and Joyce Edwards (Katrina McClain) were tapped for their position watch lists as well. South Carolina is one of three schools in the nation with a player on every list.

With just one college season in the books, Okot has already made a name for herself with her inside presence and versatility. She joins the Gamecocks after a senior at Mississippi State, where she averaged 11.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. Her SEC-best .649 field goal percentage ranked fourth in the nation, and her rebounding average was fourth-best in the SEC. Okot posted 12 double-doubles, including a 23-rebound outing at Vanderbilt (Feb. 13) and had double-digit boards in five other games as well. She scored in double figures in 22 of her 34 games played, including three of the Bulldogs’ four postseason outings.

Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Fri., Oct. 31. In late January, the watch list of 20 players will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February to just five. In March, the finalists will be presented to Leslie and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee, which will select the winner.

The winner of the 2026 Lisa Leslie Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s and Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward) and Katrina McClain (Power Forward).

No. 2/2 South Carolina officially opens its 2025-26 season on Mon., Nov. 3, when it will host Grand Canyon at Colonial Life Arena in a 7 p.m. tipoff that will be streamed on SECN+.

Continue to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for more information on the program.

2025-26 Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award Preseason Watchlist
Raegan Beers, Oklahoma
Lauren Betts, UCLA
Audi Crooks, Iowa State
Breya Cunningham, Texas
Aalyah Del Rosario, Vanderbilt
Kate Koval, LSU
Ra Shaya Kyle, Miami
Gracie Merkle, Penn State
Brooklyn Meyer, South Dakota State
Megan Nestor, North Texas
Madina Okot, South Carolina
Lara Rohkohl, BYU
Ashley Sofilkanich, Michigan
Clara Strack, Kentucky
Tilda Trygger, NC State
Kennedy Umeh, Stanford
Sakima Walker, Cal
Lauren Ware, Texas A&M
Serah Williams, UConn
Laura Ziegler, Louisville