It isn’t an overstatement to say that Arike Ogunbowale has been one of the best players in the WNBA this season.
The Dallas Wings guard – now in her fifth professional season – is coming off her third All-Star appearance and is averaging 21.9 points per-game, which is third-best in the WNBA through 22 games. The Notre Dame product is also averaging career-highs in assists (4.7) and steals (1.7) per-game, and free throw percentage (88 percent). Her play has helped the Wings outperform expectations so far this season; they’ve won five games in a row and have the WNBA’s fourth-best record at 13-9.
Needless to say, Ogunbowale has been busy in the gym, working to make herself and her teammates better. She’s been a bit too occupied to watch Nigeria or the U.S. in the World Cup (she is rooting for them though), but she hasn’t been too busy to stop her from partnering with AT&T to give back to women-owned small businesses.
Through the “She’s Connected” campaign, AT&T is giving $20,000 and a free year of its service to women who own small businesses. Nominations are open now.
“It’s dope, because I’ve been using AT&T my whole life,” Ogunbowale told For The Win. “We just work together, share common goals about connecting with fans and community, and using technology and all types of things just to connect. … It’s just about connectivity and helping those women; women in power.”
She added: “Everybody talks about investing in women’s sports and stuff like that, but they’re actually putting their money where their mouth is. I’m blessed to be partnered with a company who cares about women and cares about seeing them succeed.”
Ogunbowale discussed her partnership with AT&T, the Wings’ success and more with For The Win recently.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Some folks think that the Wings have been exceeding expectations this year. What do you attribute y'all's success to?
It’s just us focusing on ourselves. Obviously there are outside expectations, but we don’t really listen to that. You know, at the beginning of the season, we knew what we had and what we were capable of doing this year. So, I think that’s just coming together. We’re peaking at the right time. We have great pieces, all the pieces we need, to make a run for the championship. So, we’ve just been gelling and playing well together.
You have a teammate that was a fellow All-Star this year in Satou Sabally. She’s top 20 in the league in both scoring and rebounding. How have you seen her grow over these past few seasons into the player she is now?
I think a lot of it is – obviously she’s gotten better, just being in the league in general – but just her being healthy. You know, she was our No. 2 pick and in college was able to be very, very dominant. She unfortunately had a lot of injuries in her first couple seasons. So, having her fully healthy this year has made all the difference for our season and what we’re doing. She’s one of the most important pieces. So, having a healthy Satou – she’s just been killing it.
How has your game changed or evolved since you entered the WNBA in 2019?
I think every year you get better. In the offseason, I spent it here – I didn’t go overseas for the first time (in my career) and I just got to work out, work on my body, work on my game. So, I definitely think I’m playing better. Definitely stepped up my game a little bit.
You had a sort of viral moment this season where – in a game with 10 technical fouls – you got ejected, but as you were walking off the court, you hyped up the crowd and then signed an autograph on your way to the tunnel. How’d that happen?
I mean, emotions rise, you know, whether it’s from the coaches, refs or anything. And, me being me, I’m going to embrace every moment. We were up, we were winning, and I saw a fan and just wanted to sign that. That’s just how the game goes.
Arike hyped up the crowd and signed an autograph after getting ejected 😅 pic.twitter.com/YRJnzMvX2w
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 21, 2023
As a Notre Dame grad and a guard, I wanted to ask you about Olivia Miles. She was putting up some impressive numbers last year before her injury and helped Notre Dame win the ACC regular season title. What do you think of her game and how it might translate to the W?
Notre Dame does a good job with the guards and getting them to the WNBA. Olivia is going to be a really good player, especially being coached by Niele (Ivey) and the rest of the coaching staff. She has great guidance. So, I’m super excited for her and she’ll for sure be in the league one day.
There’s been a lot of talk about expansion. Do you think the WNBA should expand? Or are there more pressing issues the W needs to address first?
There’s definitely issues that need to be addressed before expanding, starting with charter flights – a lot of people talk about that. I think before (expansion) we got to sharpen up on all the stuff that we have now. Expansion will obviously be good as the league grows.
Arike Ogunbowale CALLED HER SHOT 🔥 pic.twitter.com/kdVvIrTUS2
— espnW (@espnW) July 23, 2023
I’ve heard some people argue for the expansion of roster sizes instead of teams. Would you be in-favor of something like that?
It would be good to add a couple more spots. Twelve (spots) is like (too) little. I think you could use a couple more. But they also have to get the funding for it too. I’m open to anything that would help expand the league or expand roster spots, it’s just, you know, trying to make everything happen.
Tonight @nhoward1033, @satou_sabally, and @Arike_O became the 2nd trio of teammates to each have 25+ PTS in the same WNBA game:
Natasha Howard: 28 PTS
Satou Sabally: 26 PTS
Arike Ogunbowale: 25 PTSBrittney Griner, DeWanna Bonner, and Leilani Mitchell (PHO – 2019) were 1st.
— Across the Timeline (@WBBTimeline) July 23, 2023
I read that you’re a self-described “reality-show fiend.” What’s the show you’re hooked on the most right now?
Baddies – there’s a lot of fights going on there. That’s what I’ve been watching. Or Selling Sunset, that type of stuff. And Love Is Blind too.
