Why WNBA star Madina Okot is heading to Australia

Madina Okot, the Kenyan player who has taken the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) League in the United States of America by a storm, will take up a new challenge, albeit in the short term, in Australia.

Okot, who plays for Atlanta Dreams in the WNBA, is on off-season break and has opted to play for Tasmania Jewels in the Australia Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL). She will play at Tasmania Jewels alongside guard Gianna Kneepkens from WNBA team Connecticut Sun.

It is normal for stars in the WNBA to play for other teams in the off-season when their own league is on a break. In Okot’s case, the WNBA off-season will begin upon conclusion of the WNBA Finals in October.

WNBA players usually cash in on the off-season break to play for other teams or leagues outside the USA, with a view to maximizing their income, or as a way of keeping fit throughout the year rather than taking a six-month break.

The leagues, mainly in Turkey, China, Spain, Australia, and Italy, are bankrolled by wealthy owners, companies, or governments and offer competitive salaries that rival what the WNBA offers.

They lure top talent with lucrative contracts in the region of Sh130 million. One of the most popular leagues is the annual EuroLeague Women played in multiple European countries.

Also Read: Madina Okot tipped for greatness after impressive game in WNBA