The South Carolina Gamecocks have seen their fair share of dominant post players over the years — but Dawn Staley believes Madina Okot might be the next one to join that elite list.

From A’ja Wilson to Aliyah Boston, Staley’s program has been built on power and precision in the paint. Now, the 6-foot-6 Okot, a transfer from Mississippi State, is being asked to step into that same legacy and define her own era.

“We need a dominant big,” Staley said after Monday’s season-opening win. “We need Madina to step up… We don’t go very far if she’s not contributing a little more than what she’s doing.”

A New Era in the Post

Okot’s arrival in Columbia came with expectations. She’s replacing not just one key frontcourt piece, but two. Chloe Kitts is sidelined for the season with an injury, and Ashlyn Watkins is taking a year away from basketball — leaving a void that’s as big as it is critical.

Through one regular-season game, Okot’s role is still evolving. In South Carolina’s opening win over Grand Canyon, she logged 12 points and four rebounds in 17 minutes — solid numbers, though Staley expects more.

“I’m hoping she didn’t like her play,” Staley said. “You just have to figure out which buttons to push.”

Flashes of Dominance

Okot showed glimpses of her ceiling in the Gamecocks’ exhibition slate. Against Anderson University, she delivered a monster 17-point, 15-rebound, six-block performance (box score here). In another tune-up versus North Carolina, she tallied 11 points and six boards (stats).

“You can see her dominance,” Staley said after the Anderson game. “It ebbs and flows, but once you see it, you can build on it. She’s really just scratching the surface.”

The Growing Pains

For all her promise, Okot has also run into early foul trouble. She collected three personal fouls against UNC and again versus Grand Canyon, limiting her minutes and forcing Staley to adjust.

That challenge, however, comes with a silver lining. Staley has used those moments to stretch Okot’s defensive versatility — even putting her on smaller, quicker guards.

“She can guard a guard,” Staley said. “There’s no doubt in my mind. She just has to stay low and not be so upright.”

Okot’s learning curve is understandable. The 2025–26 season marks only her second year playing basketball in the United States after competing in her native Kenya, where her natural athleticism first caught recruiters’ eyes.

Building Toward Greatness

South Carolina fans have seen this story before — a raw, gifted big who matures into a national powerhouse under Staley’s guidance. And if history is any indication, Okot’s journey is just beginning.

In one of the loudest arenas in college basketball, the crowd at Colonial Life Arena can already sense her potential. Every rebound, every block, every rim-shaking finish brings a ripple of excitement — a hint of what’s to come if she harnesses that power for 40 full minutes.

What’s Next for the Gamecocks

With Staley at the helm and a roster stacked with rising talent like Joyce Edwards, South Carolina is once again eyeing another deep postseason run. But their success, Staley admits, hinges largely on whether Okot can evolve from promising to dominant.

“We need Madina to be dominant, no doubt about it,” Staley said. “Joyce will do her thing — but we need Madina.”

As the season unfolds, Okot’s progress could define whether the Gamecocks remain at the top of the SEC mountain — or get caught in the climb.

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In a program built on dominance, Madina Okot South Carolina women’s basketball 2025 season might just be the next headline story — one block, one rebound, one moment at a time.