Okot Named to Lisa Leslie Award Top 10

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina senior Madina Okot earned a spot on the 2026 Lisa Leslie Award Midseason Top 10, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in partnership with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today. The award that recognizes the top center in the country has gone to a Gamecock five times in its eight-year history.

Okot’s numbers rank her among the best in the nation with her 14 double-doubles coming in eighth, her .596 field goal percentage 14^th and her 10.0 rebounds per game 24^th. She averages a double-double on the season with 13.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Her 1.5 blocks per game are fifth in the SEC as are her 3.5 offensive rebounds per outing. Okot has turned 43.3 percent of her offensive rebounds into immediate points. In SEC play, she is 11^th with a team-best 1.9 steals per game.

In mid-March, the Midseason Top 10 list will be narrowed to just five, and in late-March, five finalists will be presented to Leslie and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee, which will select the winner. The selection committees are composed of top women’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.

Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in both of the remaining rounds starting on Fri., Feb. 6, at hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process. The Gamecocks appear on four of the Women’s Starting Five lists – Raven Johnson for the Nancy Lieberman Award, Ta’Niya Latson for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, Joyce Edwards for the Katrina McClain Award and Okot for the Lisa Leslie Award.

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

No. 3/3 South Carolina hosts two home games this week with Mississippi State coming to Colonial Life Arena tonight and No. 19/17 Tennessee visiting on Sun., Feb. 8.

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

2026 Lisa Leslie Award Midseason Top 10
Raegan Beers, Oklahoma
Lauren Betts, UCLA
Audi Crooks, Iowa State
Ava Heiden, Iowa
Ra Shaya Kyle, Miami
Brooklyn Meyer, South Dakota State
Madina Okot, South Carolina
Clara Strack, Kentucky
Tilda Trygger, NC State
Serah Williams, UConn