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South Carolina women's basketball star named SEC Player of the Week and USBWA National Player of the Week

Screenshotby: Kevin Miller7 hours agokevinmillerGC

South Carolina women’s basketball post player Madina Okot has been a huge addition for the 2025-2026 Gamecocks. Following another strong week of play, the dominant inside force earned some well-deserved recognition.

On Tuesday, the Southeastern Conference announced that Okot was the SEC’s Player of the Week. The United States Basketball Writers Association also named her one of their National Players of the Week.

Okot’s week included an average of 16.5 points and 11.0 rebounds in a pair of South Carolina wins.

Against a ranked Louisville team on the road, the 6-6 Kenyan poured in 23 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. She also shot 10-for-16 from the field and committed just two personal fouls.

Then, against North Carolina Central at home, she scored 10 points and secured nine rebounds in just 11 minutes of play.

NEW! Message board for South Carolina Women’s Basketball!

Okot was joined in conference honors by SEC Freshman of the Week Aaliyah Chavez of Oklahoma. UCLA’s Lauren Betts, Fairfield’s Kaety L’Amoreaux, North Texas’ Megan Nestor, and Michigan’s Olivia Olson also joined her as the USBWA’s National Players of the Week.

This season, Okot is averaging 14.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks while shooting 63.8% from the field. She has registered seven double-doubles for the Gamecocks. Her year-high in scoring is 23 points (reached three times), and her year-high in rebounds is 15. She also has added a four-steal game, a four-block game, and a three-assist game to her ledger.

At 6-6 with plus-athleticism, Okot provides a dominant interior presence that South Carolina has had for each of its three National Championship runs. A’ja Wilson (2016-2017), Aliyah Boston (2021-2022), and Kamilla Cardoso (2021-2022; 2023-2024) were major pieces of those title teams. Okot has positioned herself to be the next great USC post to lead a championship-caliber squad.

NEW! Message board for South Carolina Women’s Basketball!