Arike Ogunbowale has made a name for herself by embracing the moments when the pressure is highest. Long before becoming one of the Dallas Wings’ leading scorers, she was the college player who calmly took the biggest shots of her career with championships on the line. That ability to perform when a game hangs in the balance has remained a defining part of her basketball journey.
Her résumé now includes a WNBA scoring title, multiple All-Star selections, two All-Star Game MVP awards, three-point milestones, and several Dallas Wings records. In 2026, Ogunbowale added another extraordinary chapter to that list when she scored a WNBA playoff-record 45 points against the Golden State Valkyries.
The performance came in a game Dallas desperately needed to win. Ogunbowale hit a three-pointer with 4.1 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, then added 11 points in the extra period as the Wings defeated the Valkyries 108–100 and forced a deciding Game 3.
For anyone searching for Arike Ogunbowale, her story is about much more than points and records. It’s a journey that includes an unforgettable college career, a long-standing connection with the Dallas Wings, major professional achievements, community involvement, and a growing role in the conversation surrounding the WNBA.
Quick Bio Information
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Arike Ogunbowale |
| Birth Date | March 2, 1997 |
| Birthplace | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Nationality | American |
| Position | Guard |
| Height | 5 Feet 8 Inches |
| College | Notre Dame |
| WNBA Team | Dallas Wings |
| WNBA Draft | 2019 |
| Draft Position | No. 5 Overall |
| Jersey Number | No. 24 |
| WNBA Scoring Title | 2020 |
| WNBA All-Star MVP Awards | 2021 and 2024 |
| College National Championship | 2018 |
| Professional Team | Dallas Wings |
| 2026 Playoff Highlight | 45 Points Against Golden State |
| Career WNBA Average | 19.2 Points Per Game |
The WNBA lists Ogunbowale as a 5-foot-8 guard who attended Notre Dame and was selected fifth overall by the Dallas Wings in the 2019 WNBA Draft. Her WNBA profile lists career averages of 19.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.
Early Life And Basketball Background
Arike Ogunbowale was born on March 2, 1997, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her basketball development began years before she stepped onto a WNBA court, and her talent quickly became apparent as she progressed through youth and high school basketball.
During her high school years, Ogunbowale emerged as one of Wisconsin’s most highly regarded young players. She collected major state-level recognition and built the kind of résumé that attracted attention from top college programs.
Those early years helped establish a pattern that would follow her throughout her career. Ogunbowale wasn’t afraid of competition, and she showed a willingness to take responsibility when games became difficult.
Her family background has also influenced her interests outside basketball. Both of her parents are educators, a connection that later became particularly meaningful through her community work. In 2023, the WNBA recognized Ogunbowale with its Community Assist Award for her efforts supporting education and female athletes.
Notre Dame Basketball Career
Ogunbowale spent four seasons at Notre Dame, where she developed into one of the most important players in the program.
Her time with the Fighting Irish reached another level during the NCAA Tournament. The 2018 postseason, in particular, transformed her from a highly talented college player into a national basketball star.
Ogunbowale delivered one dramatic performance after another. She hit a game-winning three-pointer against Connecticut in the national semifinal before producing another championship-winning shot against Mississippi State in the title game.
Notre Dame went on to win the 2018 national championship, and Ogunbowale was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player.
Her accomplishments extended beyond those unforgettable shots. She became Notre Dame’s career scoring leader, earned All-American recognition, and established herself as one of the country’s leading guards.
The NCAA Tournament Moments That Made Her Famous
It’s difficult to discuss Ogunbowale’s rise to national prominence without returning to those two shots in 2018.
Against Connecticut, she delivered the decisive three-pointer with just over a second remaining in the national semifinal. Two nights later, she again found herself with the game in her hands. This time, her shot against Mississippi State gave Notre Dame the national championship.
The circumstances made both moments extraordinary. These weren’t routine regular-season games. They came during the final stages of the NCAA Tournament, with a championship hanging in the balance.
Those performances also helped shape the image that has followed Ogunbowale into the professional game. She became known as a player who could create a shot and trust herself when there was little time left on the clock.
That reputation would prove valuable when she entered the WNBA.
Entering The WNBA
The Dallas Wings selected Ogunbowale with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2019 WNBA Draft.
Rather than needing several seasons to find her footing, she quickly became an important part of Dallas’ offense. During her rookie season, she averaged 19.1 points per game and earned a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie Team.
Her scoring production stood out immediately. Ogunbowale put together an 11-game stretch in which she scored at least 20 points in every game, while also recording four consecutive games with at least 30 points. Those accomplishments were recognized as WNBA rookie records at the time.
Her first professional season made it clear that the scoring ability she had shown at Notre Dame could translate to the highest level of women’s basketball.
Arike Ogunbowale And The Dallas Wings
Dallas has been a constant throughout Ogunbowale’s WNBA career. Since the Wings drafted her in 2019, she has remained with the organization and gradually grown from a promising young scorer into one of its most important veteran players.
That continuity has given her the opportunity to build a lasting relationship with the franchise and its fans. Season after season, her role has expanded as she has become one of the team’s primary offensive options.
In April 2026, the Wings re-signed Ogunbowale and identified her as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. It was another indication of how significant her production has been since arriving in Dallas.
Her professional identity is now closely tied to the Wings, and her name is firmly established in the organization’s record book.
Her Playing Style And Scoring Ability
The easiest way to describe Arike Ogunbowale’s game is to start with her ability to create offense.
She’s capable of attacking from the perimeter, getting into the lane, creating space off the dribble, and knocking down difficult shots from outside. When a possession breaks down, she has the confidence and skill to manufacture an opportunity rather than simply giving the ball away.
That shot-making ability has made her especially dangerous late in games. Defenses know she can take difficult attempts, but stopping those attempts is another matter entirely.
Her career numbers tell part of the story. The WNBA lists her career average at 19.2 points per game, along with 3.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists.
At the same time, Ogunbowale’s game has developed beyond simply putting the ball through the basket. Her passing and playmaking have become increasingly noticeable. In 2025, she recorded a Dallas Wings franchise-record 14 assists against New York, offering a reminder that her offensive value isn’t limited to scoring.
Major WNBA Achievements
Ogunbowale took a significant step forward in 2020 when she led the WNBA in scoring. She averaged 22.8 points per game and earned All-WNBA First Team honors.
The following season brought another major milestone. Ogunbowale was selected to her first WNBA All-Star Game and immediately made an impact. She scored 26 points for Team WNBA and was named All-Star Game MVP.
She later won the same honor again in 2024.
Two All-Star Game MVP awards are a notable achievement on their own, but they’re part of a larger career that has included consistent scoring and repeated recognition at the highest level.
Her accomplishments also demonstrate the longevity of her impact. She hasn’t relied on one standout season to establish her reputation. Instead, she has remained an important offensive player for Dallas across multiple years.
Three-Point And Dallas Wings Records
Three-point shooting has been a major component of Ogunbowale’s offensive game since she entered the WNBA.
She became the fastest player in league history at the time to reach 500 career three-pointers, reaching the mark in 198 games. She also became the first player in Dallas Wings history to make 500 three-pointers.
Her impact on the franchise goes beyond three-point shooting, however. By 2026, the Wings had identified her as the organization’s all-time leading scorer.
That kind of record reflects sustained production. It’s one thing to have a memorable season; it’s another to continue producing year after year for the same franchise.
Memorable WNBA Performances
There are plenty of games that help explain Ogunbowale’s reputation as a clutch scorer.
Her 2020 scoring title was an early indication of how dangerous she could be as a professional. Her All-Star Game MVP performances in 2021 and 2024 added two more high-profile examples of her ability to perform on a major stage.
She has also shown that her offensive game can include playmaking when the situation calls for it. Her 14-assist franchise record in 2025 was an especially notable example.
Still, one performance from 2026 stands apart because of the circumstances surrounding it.
Dallas entered its playoff matchup with Golden State needing a victory to keep its postseason alive. Ogunbowale responded with the highest-scoring playoff game in WNBA history.
The 2026 Playoff Record
On September 30, 2026, Ogunbowale scored 45 points as the Dallas Wings defeated the Golden State Valkyries 108–100 in overtime.
The performance broke the previous WNBA playoff scoring record of 42 points.
More importantly, the game required Dallas to overcome a difficult situation. The Wings were facing elimination, and the season would have ended with another loss.
With Dallas trailing by three late in regulation, Ogunbowale received the ball from Paige Bueckers and moved toward the corner. With 4.1 seconds remaining, she knocked down an off-balance three-pointer to tie the game at 93–93 and send it into overtime.
She didn’t slow down once the extra period began.
Ogunbowale opened overtime by banking in another three-pointer. Later, with Dallas holding a 103–100 advantage, she added another three to give the Wings a more comfortable lead.
She finished overtime with 11 points, while Dallas outscored Golden State 15–7 during the extra period. The win kept Dallas alive and forced a deciding Game 3.
The Replay Review Controversy
The closing moments of regulation also produced a disputed officiating decision.
After Ogunbowale’s tying three-pointer, Golden State attempted to inbound the ball. Gabby Williams made contact with Dallas guard Aziaha James, and the officials initially called an offensive foul on Williams.
Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase challenged the ruling.
Following the replay review, officials overturned the foul. The contact was ultimately treated as marginal, and the sequence ended with a jump ball rather than free throws for James.
The decision generated criticism in the source material, with the writer arguing that the contact was more substantial than the officials determined. That criticism is an interpretation of the play, however, and shouldn’t be presented as an independently established fact.
The important documented point is that the original foul call was overturned after review. The game continued, and Dallas eventually won in overtime.
In the end, Ogunbowale’s historic scoring performance became the larger story of the night.
Her Perspective On The WNBA’s Growth
Ogunbowale has also offered her perspective on how the WNBA has changed during her professional career.
In a 2023 interview, she discussed the league’s expanding media reach and the growing number of games available through television and streaming services.
Her comments centered on accessibility. She explained that fans now have more ways to watch games, making it easier for people to follow the league than it had been in earlier years.
That observation is particularly relevant because Ogunbowale entered the WNBA in 2019, giving her a firsthand view of several stages of the league’s development.
As the WNBA has gained greater visibility, players such as Ogunbowale have increasingly become recognizable figures beyond the traditional basketball audience.
Why Charter Flights Matter To Her
Travel has been another subject Ogunbowale has discussed openly.
In the 2023 interview, she described charter flights as a major priority for WNBA players. Her reasoning focused largely on the effect of travel on recovery and preparation.
Commercial travel can require athletes to arrive at the airport hours before departure. Once the flight is over, there can still be transportation, practice, overnight stays, and preparation for the next game.
For players operating on demanding schedules, those extra hours can add up quickly.
Ogunbowale acknowledged that charter flights are expensive, but she argued that reducing unnecessary travel time could make a meaningful difference for players and coaching staffs.
Her comments offer a useful glimpse into the practical side of professional basketball that fans don’t always see during games.
Her Work Beyond Basketball
Ogunbowale’s public profile isn’t limited to what she does on the court.
Her community work has included education initiatives, teacher appreciation efforts, and support for female athletes. In 2023, the WNBA gave her its Community Assist Award after recognizing her involvement in the Dallas Wings’ Teacher Appreciation and Back to School initiatives.
She also helped with a project to renovate a teachers’ lounge at Speer Elementary School in Arlington, Texas. The WNBA noted that the school served a significant population of economically disadvantaged students.
This work adds another dimension to her career. Statistics can measure scoring, assists, and shooting, but they don’t capture everything an athlete does with a public platform.
For Ogunbowale, community involvement has provided an opportunity to contribute outside basketball and support causes connected to education.
Her Influence On Women’s Basketball
Ogunbowale’s place in women’s basketball has been shaped by both performance and timing.
Her two championship-winning shots for Notre Dame introduced her to a national audience. Her WNBA scoring title showed that her college success wasn’t a one-time achievement. Then came All-Star appearances, two All-Star Game MVP awards, franchise records, and years of production for Dallas.
Her 2026 playoff performance added another extraordinary entry to that résumé.
There’s also a broader context to her career. Ogunbowale has spent her professional years during a period when the WNBA has continued to expand its visibility and accessibility. She has spoken about those changes while simultaneously becoming one of the league’s recognizable players.
That combination makes her career interesting beyond the numbers. She has been both a participant in the WNBA’s growth and one of the players helping define its modern era.
Final Thoughts
Arike Ogunbowale’s career has never been short on big moments.
At Notre Dame, she became famous for taking championship-winning shots when there was almost no room for error. With the Dallas Wings, she turned that clutch reputation into sustained professional production.
Her résumé now includes a WNBA scoring title, four All-Star selections, two All-Star Game MVP awards, significant three-point milestones, and the Dallas Wings’ all-time scoring record.
Her work away from basketball has added another layer to her public career, particularly through education and community initiatives.
Then came her remarkable 2026 playoff performance.
With Dallas facing elimination, Ogunbowale scored a WNBA playoff-record 45 points, hit a three-pointer with 4.1 seconds remaining to force overtime, and scored 11 points during the extra period. Dallas won 108–100 and extended the series to a deciding Game 3.
That night captured much of what has defined Ogunbowale since her college days. When the game gets tight and the stakes rise, she has repeatedly shown a willingness to take the shot.
For a player who first became nationally known because of two championship-winning baskets, it’s a fitting thread running through an already remarkable career.
FAQs About Arike Ogunbowale
Who Is Arike Ogunbowale?
Arike Ogunbowale is an American professional basketball guard who plays for the Dallas Wings in the WNBA. She played college basketball at Notre Dame before Dallas selected her fifth overall in the 2019 WNBA Draft.
How Old Is Arike Ogunbowale?
Arike Ogunbowale was born on March 2, 1997. She is 29 years old in 2026.
Where Did Arike Ogunbowale Go To College?
Ogunbowale attended the University of Notre Dame. She became one of the program’s most accomplished players and helped the Fighting Irish win the 2018 NCAA women’s basketball championship.
When Was Arike Ogunbowale Drafted?
The Dallas Wings selected Ogunbowale with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2019 WNBA Draft. She has remained with the organization throughout her WNBA career.
Has Arike Ogunbowale Won A WNBA Scoring Title?
Yes. Ogunbowale won the WNBA scoring title in 2020 after averaging 22.8 points per game. She was also named to the All-WNBA First Team that season.
How Many All-Star MVP Awards Has She Won?
Ogunbowale has won two WNBA All-Star Game MVP awards. She received the honor in 2021 and again in 2024.
What Happened In Arike Ogunbowale’s 2026 Playoff Game?
On September 30, 2026, Ogunbowale scored a WNBA playoff-record 45 points as Dallas defeated the Golden State Valkyries 108–100 in overtime. She hit a three-pointer with 4.1 seconds left in regulation to tie the game and then scored 11 points in overtime.
What Team Does Arike Ogunbowale Play For?
Arike Ogunbowale plays for the Dallas Wings. The organization drafted her in 2019 and re-signed her in 2026. The Wings identified her as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer when announcing her new deal.
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