Arike Ogunbowale Bio
Arike Ogunbowale is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Wings of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Mist of Unrivaled. Born on March 2, 1997, she plays the point guard and shooting guard positions and is widely recognized for her scoring ability and clutch shooting. She was the fifth overall pick in the 2019 WNBA draft and has become one of the league’s most consistent scorers and a multi-time WNBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player.
Early Life and Background
Arike Faulina Ogunbowale was born on March 2, 1997, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Yolanda Block Ogunbowale and Nigerian expat Gregory Ogunbowale. She is the youngest of three children and is of Yoruba descent. Her given name means a child you treasure, cherish, pamper and love in the Yoruba language. Her father served in the Nigerian military, and her mother Yolanda played softball at DePaul University.
Ogunbowale grew up in the Milwaukee area and came out of the eighth grade at Our Redeemer Lutheran School in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. In her last year at Our Redeemer, she helped the girls’ team win a national championship at the 2011 Tournament of Champions and was named the MVP of the event. From 2009 to 2012, she was also part of four Division One Wisconsin State High School Champions soccer teams, reflecting her early athletic range.
Path to Basketball
In high school, Ogunbowale also played as a soccer forward, but she decided to focus on basketball after coming to enjoy the sport more. She attended Divine Savior Holy Angels High School (DSHA) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she starred for a storied program. During the 2014-2015 season, she led the team to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division I title while averaging 27.2 points per game and scored 55 points in a semifinal contest against an undefeated opponent.
Her high school success earned her national recognition: she was ranked ninth in the world, named 2015 Wisconsin Miss Basketball, and was selected as a McDonald’s High School All-America. She returned to DSHA on December 30, 2021, to be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. These formative steps set the stage for her transition to collegiate basketball at the University of Notre Dame.
Arike Ogunbowale Career
Early Career (2015-2019)
Ogunbowale enrolled at Notre Dame and joined the Fighting Irish women’s basketball program, where she developed into one of the most decorated players in program history. As a freshman, she averaged 11.4 points per game in a reserve role before becoming a regular starter the following year.
In her junior season, she helped the Fighting Irish win the 2018 NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament, hitting game-winning shots in both the semifinal against UConn and the championship game against Mississippi State. She was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and the Atlantic Coast Conference Female Athlete of the Year for 2018, sharing the honor with men’s winner Lamar Jackson.
WNBA Breakthrough (2019-2020)
Ogunbowale entered the WNBA in 2019 when she was selected fifth overall by the Dallas Wings. In her rookie season, she finished third in the league in scoring at 19.1 points per game, scoring 20 or more points in 13 of her final 14 games, including the last 11 in a row. Her strong debut earned her a place on the WNBA All-Rookie Team.
In 2020, Ogunbowale was named the WNBA scoring champion and earned All-WNBA First Team honors. She also continued to build her international resume, playing overseas in Turkey for OGM Ormanspor and later in Russia for Dynamo Kursk during the WNBA offseason.
WNBA All-Star Era (2021-2024)
Ogunbowale was selected as the 2021 WNBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player after scoring 26 points in the WNBA team’s win over the United States Olympic squad. She added four consecutive All-Star selections from 2021 through 2024 and was again named the All-Star Game MVP on July 20, 2024, after scoring 34 points in the second half, setting a WNBA All-Star Game record. She was also named the 2024 WNBA steals leader.
During the 2023 season, the Dallas Morning News described Ogunbowale as the cornerstone of the Wings, and she was named the WNBA’s Western Conference Player of the Month in May 2023. She also accepted a player marketing agreement with the WNBA, choosing rest over an overseas offseason after an oblique injury in late 2022.
Dallas Wings Era (2025-Present)
Ogunbowale continued to anchor the Wings’ backcourt, building on her reputation as one of the league’s most reliable scorers. On April 10, 2026, she re-signed with the Wings on a seven-figure, multiyear contract, signaling a long-term commitment to the franchise.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ogunbowale is best known for her scoring touch from all three levels, her late-game poise, and her ability to create offense in isolation. Her quick first step and deep shooting range allow her to stretch defenses, while her improved playmaking and on-ball defense have made her a complete two-way guard. She has also developed into a vocal leader for the Wings in the backcourt.
Notable Events and Milestones
Ogunbowale’s signature moments include her back-to-back game-winning shots in the 2018 NCAA Final Four, her record-setting 34-point All-Star Game performance in 2024, and her 2020 WNBA scoring title. She has represented the United States in multiple FIBA events, including the 2019 FIBA AmeriCup, two FIBA 3×3 Under-18 World Cups, and the 2014 Youth Olympic Games.
Arike Ogunbowale Career Wins
Arike Ogunbowale has accumulated championship-level success at every level of her career. Her verified highlights include an NCAA championship in 2018 with Notre Dame, a 2020 WNBA scoring title, two WNBA All-Star Game MVP awards, and an Unrivaled championship in 2026 with the Mist.
WNBA Highlights
In the WNBA, Ogunbowale has been a four-time All-Star from 2021 to 2024, a two-time All-Star Game Most Valuable Player, and a one-time scoring champion. She was also a WNBA steals leader in 2024 and earned All-WNBA First Team in 2020 along with two All-WNBA Second Team nods in 2021 and 2024.
Other Wins and Performances
At the collegiate level, she won the 2018 NCAA title and was named NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. She is also a two-time First-team All-ACC selection and a multi-time All-American across multiple organizations. Internationally, Ogunbowale is a 2026 Unrivaled champion and has represented the United States in FIBA youth and senior competitions.
Arike Ogunbowale Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ogunbowale comes from a strong athletic family. Her father Gregory Ogunbowale is a Nigerian expat who served in the Nigerian military, and her mother Yolanda Block Ogunbowale is a former DePaul softball player. She is the cousin of basketball player Diamond Stone.
Personal Life
Ogunbowale is engaged to Lala Ronay, and the couple married on February 24, 2026. Her older brother, Dare Ogunbowale, is a professional football player in the NFL. She is of Yoruba descent and embraces her Nigerian-American heritage. In April 2018, she competed on season 26 of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with professional dancer Gleb Savchenko, and finished in seventh place.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 WNBA season, Ogunbowale continued to serve as the centerpiece of the Dallas Wings offense, providing veteran scoring and playmaking. Her consistent production and leadership helped the Wings remain competitive in the Western Conference playoff picture.
She also participated in the 2025 Unrivaled season, playing for Vinyl BC and reaching the semifinals of the league’s 1v1 tournament. Looking ahead, Ogunbowale is expected to remain a focal point of the Wings’ system after re-signing on a multiyear deal, with her sights set on a deep playoff run and continued individual accolades.
