Arike Ogunbowale

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Nigerian parents, Arike Ogunbowale was immersed in sports from an early age. Her mother was a high school softball legend, her father a former rugby and soccer player, and her brother went on to become an NFL running back. Arike carved out her own legacy in basketball. She attended Divine Savior Holy Angels High School, where she led her team to the 2015 Division 1 state championship, scoring a record 55 points in the semi-final game. Beyond high school, she earned five gold medals in various FIBA championships between 2013 and 2014, showcasing her talent on an international stage before joining college.

Ogunbowale continued her career at Notre Dame, where she became the all-time leading scorer for the Fighting Irish women’s basketball program with 2,340 points over four seasons. A defining moment came in the 2018 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship Game, where she hit a game-winning three-point buzzer-beater to secure the national title. For her athletic prowess, she was named the female Athlete of the Year by the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2018. Following her collegiate success, Arike was the fifth overall pick in the 2019 WNBA draft by the Dallas Wings.

In her rookie WNBA season, Arike Ogunbowale immediately made an impact, ranking third in the league in scoring and becoming the first WNBA rookie with multiple 35-point games. By her second season, she was one of the youngest WNBA scoring champions with 22.8 points per game. Her achievements include being voted the 2021 All-Star Game Most Valuable Player after a 26-point performance against Team USA, and repeating this feat in 2024 with a record 34 points. Beyond basketball, she participated in “Dancing with the Stars” in 2018 and launched her own clothing line in 2020. She also actively participates in training camps in Milwaukee to develop young basketball players.