More than the Score

Episoder

• World Cup 2026: Iran face New Zealand after months of uncertainty 15.06.2026 20min

  After months of uncertainty, and doubts over whether they would participate in the World Cup, Iran get under way against New Zealand in Los Angeles. The team has faced visa problems and had to relocate their base camp to Mexico.The BBC’s Mani Djazmi discusses the issues around the team and their participation with Shahin Rahmani, a former football journalist and editor in Iran, who for the last 20 years has attended several World Cups as a FIFA security officer and is regularly consulted by the Iranian football federation.Actor and comedian Maz Jobrani also tells Mani how the Iranian-American community in LA feels about the national team.More than the Score brings you more than the men’s football World Cup - the new teams, standout stars, trends and fandoms shaping the tournament in ways the stats don’t show. With 48 teams competing across Mexico, the US and Canada, BBC World Service promises to take you deeper - from the group stages to the final. Search for More than the Score wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
• World Cup 2026: Mauricio Pochettino's USA join the party 13.06.2026 23min

  More Than The Score joins football fans across the United States as the hosts record a comfortable win in their World Cup opener against Paraguay.The United States joined co-hosts Mexico and Canada in hosting their first match of the tournament, recording a comfortable 4-1 victory at the Los Angeles Stadium.Lee James joins a watch along in a New York bar, while Isaac Fanin gauged the reaction of fans in the host city. More than the Score brings you more than the men’s football World Cup - the new teams, standout stars, trends and fandoms shaping the tournament in ways the stats don’t show. With 48 teams competing across Mexico, the US and Canada, BBC World Service promises to take you deeper - from the group stages to the final. Search for More than the Score wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
• Aston Moore: Do coaches get better with age? 13.06.2026 17min

  Last year, the Caribbean island nation of Curacao qualified for the Fifa men's World Cup for the first time in their history - led by 78-year-old manager Dick Advocaat. He's now set to become the oldest man to ever coach at the finals, when he leads Curacao out against four-time world champions Germany.That got us thinking about how much experience matters for coaches. Does having decades of knowledge under your belt make you a better guide for young athletes - or less flexible and more set in your ways?Last November, More than the Score's Ed Harry talked to Aston Moore, a British athletics coach who's worked with dozens of elite Olympians and Paralympians, including two-time world heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson. He turned 70 in February, but has no intention of retiring. He explains the importance of commitment and adaptability for coaches and the athletes in their care - and why he prefers to teach people by letting them work out the answers for themselves, rather than telling them what to do.Ed also hears from journalist Anthony Wootton, who discusses why sports organisations in North America seem to have more patience with their head coaches.All this summer, More than the Score brings you more than the men’s football World Cup - the new teams, standout stars and fandoms shaping the tournament in ways the stats don’t show. Search for More than the Score, wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
• World Cup 2026: Canada’s Jonathan Osorio ready for Bosnia on his birthday 12.06.2026 19min

  The BBC’s Lee James and John Bennett are in New York City, where they discover excitement for the World Cup 2026 is starting to build, albeit slowly, against the backdrop of the New York Knicks run in the NBA Finals.They reflect on Mexico winning their opening match before turning their attention to another of the co-hosts, Canada.We hear Lee’s extended interview with Jonathan Osorio. The midfielder is a key part of a Canada squad celebrated for its diversity. Osorio was born in Toronto to Colombian parents. Ahead of the co-hosts opening match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, which falls on his birthday, he tells Lee James why this Canada team's multiculturalism is a reflection of the nation in 2026. He also says this World Cup is an opportunity to grow the game so they can in the future be considered a 'soccer nation'. More than the Score brings you more than the men’s football World Cup - the new teams, standout stars, trends and fandoms shaping the tournament in ways the stats don’t show. With 48 teams competing across Mexico, the US and Canada, BBC World Service promises to take you deeper - from the group stages to the final. Search for More than the Score wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
• World Cup 2026: South Africa’s captain and Mexico’s ‘curse’ 11.06.2026 28min

  The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in the opening match at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Expected to play a crucial role is South Africa's captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, whose performances over the past two years have established him as one of Africa's leading players. He spoke to Isaac Fanin about the rise of African goalkeepers and why leading Bafana Bafana in the first game means so much to him and his family. Mani Djazmi’s been speaking to former Mexico international Joaquin Beltran about what Mexican’s describe as El Quinto Partido, the Mexican curse of never winning five games in a World Cup.Plus Isaac visits the Mexican community in Los Angeles, including interviews with Tracy M. Serrano-Ruiz, Interim Chief Executive Officer of LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, and Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez, the Consul General of Mexico in Los AngelesMore than the Score brings you more than the men’s football World Cup - the new teams, standout stars, trends and fandoms shaping the tournament in ways the stats don’t show. With 48 teams competing across Mexico, the US and Canada, BBC World Service promises to take you deeper - from the group stages to the final. Search for More than the Score wherever you get your BBC podcasts.Audio for this programme was updated on 11th June 2026 with additional audio about Mexico.
• World Cup 2026: Which of USA, Canada and Mexico will perform best? 10.06.2026 24min

  USA, Canada and Mexico are co-hosting the biggest ever World Cup, but which nation will go furthest in the tournament?The BBC’s Mani Djazmi is joined by CONCACAF football expert Jon Arnold to assess the co-hosts chances. We also hear from Canada manager Jesse Marsch, Former USA captain Marcelo Balboa and Mexican journalist Ricardo Otero.Marsch tells us he believes his side can make history in a home World Cup and it’s an opportunity to create future stars.More than the Score brings you more than the men’s football World Cup - the new teams, standout stars, trends and fandoms shaping the tournament in ways the stats don’t show. With 48 teams competing across Mexico, the US and Canada, BBC World Service promises to take you deeper - from the group stages to the final. Search for More than the Score wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
• World Cup 2026: Uzbekistan - Asia's 'heartbreak' team finally reach the World Cup 09.06.2026 25min

  Uzbekistan are set to finally make their World Cup debut as an independent nation - after years of near misses. More than the Score's Mani Djazmi speaks to Jaloliddin Masharipov, a winger who's been part of the Uzbekistan team for more than a decade, about how the team is getting ready for its big moment, and their star player - Manchester City's Abdukodir Khusanov. Jaloliddin's also looking forward to being reunited with his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo when Uzbekistan face Portugal. Mani also hears from BBC Uzbek's Firuz Rahimi, who explains how much Uzbekistan has invested into building a squad that's ready for the World Cup, and what finally qualifying means for the country's national image. Is Italy legend Fabio Cannavaro the coach who can take Uzbekistan where they want to go? More than the Score brings you more than the men’s football World Cup - the new teams, standout stars, trends and fandoms shaping the tournament in ways the stats don’t show. With 48 teams competing across Mexico, the US and Canada, BBC World Service promises to take you deeper - from the group stages to the final. Search for More than the Score wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
• World Cup 2026: will Africa win its first title? 08.06.2026 46min

  Half a century on from Pele's infamous prophecy that an African nation would win the World Cup before the year 2000, could the continent finally deliver its first World Cup in 2026?The BBC’s Lee James is joined by the former Democratic Republic of Congo captain Gabriel Zakuani and the former Sierra Leone captain Steven Caulker to discuss the hopes of the ten African sides competing in the tournament. They discuss the impact Morocco reaching the semi-finals in 2022 has had, the strength of Senegal and give their thoughts on when an African nation could win a World Cup.Senegal’s Iliman Ndiaye tells the podcast they’re going to the tournament with the aim of winning it and they never fear anyone. Former Nigeria captain Sunday Oliseh tells us it’s possible an African team could go one better than Morocco did in 2022 and that he wants to see an African team win the tournament in his lifetime. Plus, we also hear from Ghanian legend Micheal Essien. More than the Score brings you more than the men’s football World Cup - the new teams, standout stars, trends and fandoms shaping the tournament in ways the stats don’t show. With 48 teams competing across Mexico, the US and Canada, BBC World Service promises to take you deeper - from the group stages to the final. Search for More than the Score wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
• World Cup 2026: The favourites, the debutants and the politics 05.06.2026 32min

  The United States, Canada and Mexico will host the most prestigious football tournament in the world. The holders Argentina will start as one of the favourites along with the likes of Spain, France, and Brazil. There are also some new names with Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan competing in the finals for the first time ever.Lee James is joined by John Bennett, Isaac Fanin and Mani Djazmi to discuss the issues, both on and off the field, affecting the tournament. We also hear from some of those who will be playing including South Korea captain and former Tottenham Hotspur striker, Son Heung-min and Argentina World Cup winner, Geronimo Rulli.More than the Score brings you more than the men’s football World Cup - the new teams, standout stars, trends and fandoms shaping the tournament in ways the stats don’t show.With 48 teams competing across Mexico, the US and Canada, BBC World Service promises to take you deeper - from the group stages to the final. Search for More than the Score wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
• How Kei Kamara made history in the MLS and Sierra Leone 03.06.2026 25min

  Sierra Leone striker Kei Kamara has announced his retirement from football aged 41, after a 20-year playing career that saw him go from child refugee to one of Major League Soccer’s most popular players. More than the Score’s Lee James hears his story, from memories of growing up amid civil war in Sierra Leone to a football career that took him all across the USA, as well as a spell in the Premier League with Norwich City. Kei also explains how he took an unusual route to earn his big break in the MLS.More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the World Cup to F1, golf to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like heavyweight boxing champion Fabio Wardley, Tour de France winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, viral figure-skating camera operator Jordan Cowan and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore
• Jordan Cowan: The camera behind ice skating's viral hits 01.06.2026 24min

  Figure skating was the social media hit of the Winter Olympics, with stars like Alyssa Liu becoming globally famous over the course of the Games. But it wasn't just the skaters going viral - fans' eyes were also drawn to Jordan Cowan, a cameraman in a sparkling white suit, who took to the ice after routines to capture the emotion and atmosphere like never before.Formerly a competitive skater himself, Jordan now uses his on-ice skills and passion for cinema to create intimate films of the world's greatest skaters at work. His On Ice Perspectives YouTube and social media channels have become hugely popular, giving fans a new way of seeing figure skating - and also helping to introduce the sport to a new generation.More than the Score's Sophia Hartley talks to Jordan Cowan about how his childhood in Los Angeles sparked his love of film, the methods he uses to capture skating from angles few people get to see, and the transformative effect social media is having on his sport.More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the World Cup to F1, golf to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like heavyweight boxing champion Fabio Wardley, Tour de France winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, trailblazing Samoan athlete Alex Rose and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore
• New York Knicks reach the NBA Finals for first time in 27 years 29.05.2026 23min

  The New York Knicks are in the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years after they swept aside the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. They'll face either defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder, or Victor Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs, for the NBA title.The likes of Spike Lee, Timothée Chalamet, Anne Hathaway and Larry David are expected to take their seats on Madison Square Garden's "Celebrity Row" come game time in June. But why has it taken so long for one of the most storied franchises in sport to return to basketball's biggest stage?Jonathan Macri is Dean of the New York Knicks Film School podcast. He tells Ed Harry why the city is confident this current Knicks team, led by Jalen Brunson, can emulate the teams of 1970 and 1973 and be crowned NBA champions for only the third time. BBC Sport's Jonty Colman explains why having a competitive Knicks franchise is good for basketball.This episode was recorded on Thursday 28th May, before game six of the Western Conference finals.More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the World Cup to F1, golf to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like heavyweight boxing champion Fabio Wardley, Tour de France winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, trailblazing Samoan athlete Alex Rose and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore
• Can the Unity Cup put Indian football in the spotlight? 27.05.2026 22min

  India will take part in the Unity Cup, an invitational four-nation tournament in London. Joining them will be Nigeria, Jamaica and Zimbabwe. The event, launched in 2002, is designed as a celebration of communities with a large diaspora in the city. Football in India has endured a difficult period, however. The Indian Super League was shortened after starting late. There's a lack of quality foreign players, while a seven-month winless streak for the national team only ended in March 2026.India's captain, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, tells Mani Djazmi why competing at the Unity Cup - which is being held at The Valley, home to Charlton Athletic - is important after failing to qualify for 2027's AFC Asian Cup. Gurpreet Singh also discusses why Bengaluru FC teammate Ryan Williams' decision to relinquish his Australian passport to play for India has been welcomed within Indian football.More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the World Cup to F1, golf to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like heavyweight boxing champion Fabio Wardley, Tour de France winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, trailblazing Samoan athlete Alex Rose and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore
• VAR: Inside one of football's most controversial jobs 25.05.2026 23min

  Video assistant referees - or VAR - are among the most scrutinised figures in football. Decisions made using the technology have seemingly played huge roles in title races across Europe, and it once again looks set to be a major talking point at the upcoming men's World Cup. But what's it like to do the job itself?Back in November, John Bennett talked to the former referee Graham Scott, who spent more than a decade officiating in the English Premier League before retiring in 2025. He explains how much of an impact the technology has had on the way referees do their jobs, and what actually happens in the VAR team during a game. He also discusses why he feels pressure is growing on the game's officials.More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the World Cup to F1, golf to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like heavyweight boxing champion Fabio Wardley, Tour de France winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, trailblazing Samoan athlete Alex Rose and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore
• Scott Dixon: From New Zealand to the Indianapolis 500 22.05.2026 14min

  New Zealander Scott Dixon has spent more than two decades as one of the biggest names in IndyCar racing. He's been crowned the overall IndyCar series champion six times, and, aged 45, is still one of the sport's leading drivers. His achievements in the US have made him a national hero in New Zealand - in 2025, he was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, and he's twice been named the country's Sportsman of the Year.On Sunday, he'll be lining up alongside 32 other drivers from 15 different countries for the sport's most famous race, the Indianapolis 500, which he won for the only time in his career in 2008. He tells Ade Adedoyin about how his family's love of motor racing influenced his journey to the top of the Indy Car Series. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like heavyweight boxing champion Fabio Wardley, Tour de France winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, trailblazing Samoan athlete Alex Rose and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore
• Aaron Rai: From Wolverhampton to major champion 21.05.2026 17min

  Aaron Rai wasn't one of the favourites for this year's US PGA tournament - the second of the sport's four men's majors. But on the final day of the championship, the Englishman slowly emerged from a huge pack of contenders to top the leaderboard. Showing no nerves, he held off the likes of Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas to take his first major title, finishing three shots clear of the field.So where did he come from, and where might he go next? More than the Score's Ade Adedoyin hears from Rai's childhood coach, Darren Prosser, about how a Formula One-loving child from Wolverhampton found a passion for golf, and the sacrifices Aaron's parents made to support his progress in the game. Darren also discusses how much Rai's roots in the Midlands, India and Kenya mean to him.Ade's also joined by Iain Carter, the BBC's golf correspondent, who says that Rai's victory at the US PGA wasn't necessarily a shock, after several years of steady progress up the ranks. He also explains how a steady temperament, and some idiosyncratic habits, have been key to his rise.Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Tour de France winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Winter Olympic champion Elana Meyers Taylor, trailblazing Samoan athlete Alex Rose and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore
• From Wrexham to F1: Is reality TV changing sport? 20.05.2026 26min

  Welcome to Wrexham and Formula 1: Drive to Survive are among the wave of sporting reality TV shows that have become global hits over the past decade. They've also had a major influence on the teams and sports they feature, with Wrexham now targeting a place in the Premier League, while F1 has soared in popularity in markets such as the US.But why have behind-the-scenes shows like these become so popular - and are they having an effect on the way sport itself is run?Fulwell Entertainment co-founder Ben Turner is a producer and director whose credits include the sporting reality series Sunderland 'Til I Die, Starting 5 and Clutch: The NBA Playoffs. He talks to More than the Score's Sophia Hartley about why viewers, despite knowing the outcome, have become interested in what happens away from the action.TV and pop culture critic Sophie Brookover, who has written for outlets including Vulture and the Daily Beast, also talks to Sophia about why Formula 1: Drive to Survive was able to connect with audiences who had little or no interest in the sport.Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Tour de France winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Winter Olympic champion Elana Meyers Taylor, trailblazing Samoan athlete Alex Rose and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore
• Jada Tati: From World Skate Games to a Miss Namibia semi-finalist 19.05.2026 15min

  Jada Tati was part of Namibia's junior inline hockey women's team, which beat the USA in 2022 to win the country’s first title at the World Skate Games. Inline hockey is similar to ice hockey, but played with roller skates rather than blades.Sophia Hartley is joined by BBC World Service Newsday presenter Isaac Fanin, who spoke to Jada about why she's since retired from the sport and how she's using her platform as a Miss Namibia 2026 semi-finalist to embark on a different journey.Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Tour de France winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Winter Olympic champion Elana Meyers Taylor, trailblazing Samoan athlete Alex Rose and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore
• Unai Emery: the Europa League maestro 18.05.2026 18min

  Spanish football manager Unai Emery has won four Europa League titles - can he win a fifth with Aston Villa? Emery led Sevilla to three Europa League titles in a row between 2014 and 2016 before winning it again with Villareal in 2021. So why is he so successful in European Football's second tier competition?As he prepares to lead a side in a 6th Europa League final, Delyth Lloyd is joined by the BBC's Nick Mashiter and German football broadcaster Constantin Eckner to find out what makes Emery tick and a little bit more about the team standing in his way.Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Tour de France winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Winter Olympic champion Elana Meyers Taylor, trailblazing Samoan athlete Alex Rose and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore
• Madina Okot: From Kenya to the WNBA 15.05.2026 18min

  Last month, Madina Okot was picked 13th in the WNBA Draft - the earliest any Kenyan player has been selected in the competition's history. She was chosen by the Atlanta Dream after an impressive college career, even though she only took up basketball six years ago. She's also not had a straightforward route to the top level of the sport, with multiple rejections along the way, and faced a battle to even earn a visa to come to the US. Soon after the draft, BBC Africa’s Anita Nkonge spoke to Madina about her journey from Kenya to the US, her story in the sport so far, and her hopes for her future in the WNBA. More than the Score’s Ade Adedoyin also hears from BBC Africa’s Emmanuel Akindubuwa about what Madina’s career could mean for women’s basketball in Africa. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like heavyweight boxing champion Fabio Wardley, Tour de France winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, trailblazing Samoan athlete Alex Rose and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore