Who is Arike Ogunbowale? A Look at Her WNBA Journey

One of the draft mates of Napheesa Collier from the 2019 WNBA Draft class, Arike Ogunbowale, was just a pick above the former in the first round. However, Arike Ogunbowale turned out to be dominant in all aspects of the game, whether it be the scoring, rebounds, assists or steals on the court. Her on-court success and huge fanbase can hold testimony of her All-Star record. Despite not being in the WNBA league for long, she has managed to make All-Star teams four times in her WNBA career.

Also, out of her four All-Star appearances, she has achieved the All-Star MVP two times, highlighting her dominance, once in 2021 and the other in 2024. One of the most iconic memories of Arike Ogunbowale’s WNBA career is her 2020 season, where she emerged to be the 2020 WNBA scoring leader. That was one of Arike’s prime performances, where she averaged about 22.8 points per game. However, she also landed in trouble because of her explicit opinions and direct addressing of the issue. Want to know more about “The Future”? Let’s delve deep into the life of a potential Hall of Fame in the WNBA.

Arike Ogunbowale’s WNBA Career Overview

Early Life

Hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Arike Ogunbowale was born to their mother, Yolanda, and her father, Gregory Ogunbowale. Ogunbowale is the family’s last born, and both parents have roots in Nigeria. Her father was a soldier in the Nigerian army, while her mother was an active player for DePaul University’s softball team. Arike Ogunbowale once revealed that she owes most of her success in the WNBA to her mother, who was regarded as the best softball player in Wisconsin, and her fierce competitiveness.

Such a trait not only shaped the persona of Arike Ogunbowale as an athlete but also contributed to her status as a prominent scorer for the WNBA franchise. Going by her mother’s philosophy, she entered the Divine Savior Holy Angels High School. There is not much info about the freshman and junior year of Arike Ogunbowale. However, the year 2014-2015 was special as a senior for Arike as she won the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division I title. It was a pioneering scoring from Arike, averaging 27.2 points per game.

One of the most prominent basket dishing came out from Arike during the semi-final game, where she scored 55 points. At that time, in terms of scoring the basket, Arike Ogunbowale held ninth position in the world, and therefore, her high school was awarded her 2015 Wisconsin Miss Basketball and the McDonald All-American selection.

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College Career Journey Started

Arike Ogunbowale joined Notre Dame as her college choice in 2015. However, she could not be a regular right away with the Fighting Irish team. Rather, she was a reserve for most of his debut year in collegiate basketball. Her achievements in the respective years of her college can be mentioned as follows as per Notre Dame Athletics official data:

Freshman Year(2015-16):

• ACC All-Freshman Team (Blue Ribbon & Coaches)
• ACC All-Academic Team
• ACC Rookie of the Week (12/14/15)

Sophomore Year(2016-17):

• Naismith Trophy Top-30
• NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Performer
• NCAA All-Regional Team
• WBCA All-Region Team
• ACC All-Tournament First-Team
• EspnW National Player of the Week (11/21/16)
• Preseason WNIT Tournament MVP
• ACC Player of the Week (11/14/16)
• Naismith Trophy Watch List

Junior Year(2017-18):

• Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Top-5 Finalist
• WBCA All-American // AP Second Team All-American // USBWA Second Team All-American // USA Today Second Team All-American // espnW Second Team All-American
• Final Four Most Outstanding Player
• ACC Mary Garber Award – Top Female Athlete of the Year
• Spokane All-Regional Team and MVP
• Naismith Trophy Semifinalist
• Wooden Award National Ballot
• WBCA Wade Trophy Watch List
• First Team All-ACC
• All-ACC Tournament First Team
• One-time ACC Player of the Week
• Gulf Coast Showcase All-Tournament Team.

Senior Year(2018-19):

• NCAA All-Final Four Team
• WBCA All-American
• AP 2nd Team All-American
• NCAA Chicago Regional MVP
• USBWA 1st Team All-American
• espnW 2nd Team All-American
• Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Top 5 Finalist
• ACC All-Tournament Team
• Wooden Award National Ballot
• AAU Award Semifinalist
• Dawn Staley Award Finalist
• First Team All-ACC
• Naismith Trophy Semifinalist
• Vancouver Showcase MVP
• Preseason AP All-American
• 2019 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch List
• Wooden Award Watch List
• Naismith Trophy Watch List
• Wade Trophy Watch List
• Preseason ACC Player of the Year
• Two-time ACC Player of the Week (Nov. 19 & Dec. 23)
• 2018 AP Female Athlete of the Year Runner-Up

After her excellent college career, Arike Ogunbowale once got a chance to meet Kobe Bryant at The Ellen Show in 2018. It was a magical moment for Arike since the Black Mamba was a fan of her basketball performance during the NCAA season. Confessing about her feelings later to the Forbes, Arike said, “Being able to meet him, talk with him, and go to his offices in LA was amazing.”

Soon after completing her collegiate career, Arike Ogubowale was picked up as the fifth overall pick from the 2019 WNBA draft class by Dallas Wings.

Performance in the 2024 Regular Season

Coming to the 2024 performance of Arike Ogunbowale, there is one thing for sure she is strong-willed to improve her overall abilities apart from scoring. This year’s stats were a testament to her scope for transition into a legendary player. Here is a breakdown of Arike Ogunbowale’s 2024 stats as per ESPN record:

In terms of annual accolades, she earned the following achievements:

• WNBA All-Star 2024 Game MVP
• 2024 WNBA Steals Leader

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Arike Ogunbowale’s Impressive Stats and Performance

Arike Ogunbowale’s solitary scoring prowess is the most dominant feature of her game, which has revolutionized the WNBA guard position. Since her rookie year, she was cast as the main offensive weapon for the Dallas Wings. She keeps on registering such great figures that she often finds herself among the leaders for points per game and in free-throw percentage. Now, these notable qualities are further extended thanks to her development of innovatory abilities, which involve passing the ball to teammates, which reflects on her acute assists numbers every season and wider implementation of measures as the offensive general of the team tactically deployed.

The career statistics of Arike Ogunbowale can be viewed as a snapshot of her life as an offensively oriented basketball player who can play different games. As an all-around player able to shoot the ball both from the perimeter and penetrate, she also possesses a good outside shooting range. Besides, the free-throw percent is an area where she is almost always within the top ranks; this is another aspect that makes her an effective figure in scoring during crucial periods of the game. It’s in creating opportunities for others that Arike Ogunbowale is growing in skills, but at the same time, she has managed to play the role of a scorer and help quite a bit by bringing the team together.

Key Moments: Arike Ogunbowale’s Performance Against the Aces

Arike Ogunbowale awakens a beast in herself when it comes to elite teams like the Las Vegas Aces. It is in these moments that she displays her clutch abilities and delivers well under peer pressure. She rose to the occasion, as evident from the stats below, and proved her mettle on the hard court.

Arike Ogunbowale’s fine performances against the Aces reinforce her determination and scoring prowess. In particular, there was a notable performance in August 2023 when she managed to score 35 points and demonstrated remarkable shooting, with half of her shots going in and a high success rate of three-pointers. It goes without saying that there is a certain clutch quality in Arike Ogunbowale’s game that allows her to be successful even when playing against the best of the best and contributes to her image as a player who is always tough and up for the challenge regardless of who the opponent is.

Controversies and Challenges: Arike Ogunbowale’s Journey

While a lot of attention and admiration is directed in the direction of Ogunbowale’s court-playing abilities, her path has not been free of controversy, as one might assume. Straightforward by nature, Ogunbowale has been at the center of certain conversations revolving around players’ conduct and the niceties of the game.
For instance, critics and allies alike have had to consider the attitude that insults her opponent and her fighting style, which elicits mixed reactions. Such admirers and fans as commentators worried over her aggression towards umpires and her defiance in difficult situations as a combination of temper and pride.

Yet, Arike Ogunbowale’s ability to express herself and stand up for what she believes in is something admired by most people. In a League where athletes are becoming increasingly vocal on a variety of topics, she is a powerful voice that is needed. For example, on gender equality in society, she once said in a RedBull interview, “It’s just people being stubborn and not really getting with it.”

Yet Arike Ogunbowale put her best on the professional front without worrying about external challenges. Like she faced outlash on her Olympic selection remarks. But she never compromised the tension with the sports. The Dallas Wings guard’s work ethic and willingness to work hard are shown by the struggle to perform to the best of her ability while managing the status and the public’s eye. The most popular highlight from this year for Arike Ogunbowale was when she withdrew from the 2024 Paris Olympics selection due to politics in the selection criteria for the spot. However, there was no closure on that debate and it was left on an open end.

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Conclusion: Arike Ogunbowale’s Ongoing Legacy and Future in the WNBA

Arike Ogunbowale has carved aa separate style for herself as one of the most extrovert players in the WNBA. Her scoring excellence, rough tough mental ability, and adamant attitude paved her way for a loyal following and a significant stature in her WNBA franchise. Every player has come to understand how fierce her competitive spirit is during matches with top teams like the Las Vegas Aces. Apart from that, her growing skill of being a playmaker over the years denotes how much she is aware of the adaptive style of the league.

Arike Ogunbowale’s skill enhancement leads to every basketball fan to understand that she will have more and more influence in the WNBA soon. She has encountered challenges and conflicts, and such experiences have only strengthened her resolve, ensuring that she remains one of the icons of women’s basketball. Looking ahead, she can scale greater heights as a player and a leader and inspire the sports community with her explicit toughness and balling prowess.

With every passing season, Arike Ogunbowale is creating a legacy in the WNBA that is complemented by the sheer audacity and dedication she has for the game of basketball. As she moves forward, both admirers and critics of Arike Ogunbowale should keep in mind that the Dallas Wings guard might achieve excellence on the court whatever the ground is.