President William Ruto attended the Atlanta Dream’s WNBA clash against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday, September 23, to support Kenyan basketball star Madina Okot.
Ruto watched the game from courtside alongside First Lady Rachel Ruto, NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum and representatives of NBA Africa as Atlanta defeated New York 83–65.
Okot, who was selected 13th overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2026 WNBA Draft, entered late in the fourth quarter. She played 2 minutes and 16 seconds, scoring two points and grabbing two rebounds.
She scored her two points on a layup with 37 seconds remaining as Atlanta closed out the regular season with an 18-point victory. Allisha Gray led the Dream with 24 points, while Naz Hillmon added 16.
The victory secured Atlanta the No. 4 seed in the WNBA playoffs, while New York finished eighth.
Ruto also met Okot after the game, with the Kenyan player saying she appreciated the President’s presence and its significance for sports in Kenya.
Ruto is in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he is representing Kenya in high-level engagements. He attended the WNBA game during his time in the United States.
The appearance also comes against the backdrop of Kenya’s focus on sports development, including investment in sporting infrastructure, grassroots talent and opportunities for young athletes.
Okot’s selection in the WNBA Draft and her debut season with Atlanta have placed Kenyan basketball talent on the WNBA stage.
