DHJ Quick Take: The Foundation is Set
- Undeniable Loyalty: By securing a multi-year deal for the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, Curt Miller has ensured that the Wings‘ rebuild has a stable, veteran heartbeat. Arike Ogunbowale‘s commitment to Dallas—coming off a historic 2025 where she tied Diana Taurasi for the fastest to 500 career threes—solidifies her as the ultimate bridge to the next era.
- The Blueprint Around a Star: Miller‘s strategy is clear: surround Ogunbowale‘s elite scoring with high-efficiency pieces. The signings of Jessica Shepard (the 2025 FG% leader) and the return of a more polished Awak Kuier create a frontcourt that can capitalize on the gravity Ogunbowale generates in the backcourt.
- Winning Pedigree: Coming off a 2026 Unrivaled championship with Mist BC, Ogunbowale returns to Arlington with her “winner” credentials refreshed. Her presence in the locker room will be the primary resource for whoever Dallas selects with the No. 1 overall pick tomorrow.
- Stat Watch: Ogunbowale enters the season just 42 assists and 50 steals away from leading the franchise in nearly every major category. Her legacy isn’t just being built; it’s being finalized in a Wings uniform.
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Wings have re-signed veteran guard Arike Ogunbowale, the team announced. The franchise’s all-time leading scorer returns to Dallas on a multi-year deal, continuing a tenure that began when the Wings selected her fifth overall in the 2019 WNBA Draft.
General manager Curt Miller said the organization understands the significance of keeping Ogunbowale in a Wings uniform.
“We are so excited that Arike has chosen to return to Dallas and build upon her great legacy here,” Miller said. “We understand the unique opportunity we have in being able to welcome back our franchise’s all-time leading scorer, and we are so grateful for Arike’s loyalty to the Dallas Wings. Her commitment to the Wings and City of Dallas is undeniable, and we are looking forward to building this team with her veteran leadership at the forefront.”
Arike Ogunbowale’s Decorated History
Ogunbowale has spent her entire WNBA career with the Wings and enters the 2026 season as the franchise’s all-time leader in points, field goals made, three-pointers made, and free throws made. She sits just 42 assists and 50 steals away from leading the franchise in those categories as well.
Her résumé is among the most decorated in the league. Ogunbowale is a four-time All-Star, a two-time All-Star Game MVP, an All-WNBA First Team selection in 2020, and an All-WNBA Second Team selection in 2021 and 2024. She led the WNBA in scoring in 2020 at 22.8 points per game and in steals in 2024 at 2.1 per game.
She is one of just four active players with at least 4,400 points, 700 rebounds, 850 assists, 330 steals, and 500 three-point field goals in WNBA history — and became the fastest player in league history to reach those marks, doing so in 219 games on July 28, 2025.
A 2025 Season Defined by Milestones
Despite missing 15 games due to injury, Ogunbowale’s 2025 campaign featured several historic performances. She averaged 15.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.3 steals across 29 regular-season games.
On July 28 against the New York Liberty, she matched the franchise’s single-game assists record with 14, adding 15 points and recording 10 assists in the first half alone — becoming just the third player in WNBA history to record a points-assists double-double in a single half and the first in Wings history.
On May 27 against the Connecticut Sun, she surpassed A’ja Wilson for the second-most points scored through 200 career games with 4,083, trailing only Breanna Stewart. Three days earlier, on May 21 against Minnesota, she tied Diana Taurasi as the fastest player in league history to reach 500 career three-pointers made, accomplishing the feat in 198 games and becoming the first player in Wings history to reach the milestone.
Beyond the WNBA
Ogunbowale has supplemented her WNBA career with extensive international experience, competing in Turkey, Russia, and China.
Over the past two offseasons, she has also competed in Unrivaled, most recently leading Mist BC to the 2026 championship. In March, she joined Sichuan for the WCBA playoffs in China, where she is averaging 16.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
Before her professional career, Ogunbowale graduated from Notre Dame in 2019 as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 2,626 points. She led the Fighting Irish to their second NCAA title in 2018, winning 136 games over four years and adding three ACC championships and a national runner-up finish to her collegiate résumé.
Dallas Wings Offseason Moves
The Ogunbowale re-signing headlines an active offseason for Dallas. Center Awak Kuier has returned after three dominant seasons in Europe, where she led the Euroleague in blocks this past season with Galatasaray.
Forward Jessica Shepard, who led the WNBA in field goal percentage in 2025, has also signed with the Wings. Center Li Yueru and guard Grace Berger have each accepted qualifying offers as restricted free agents. Dallas also traded forward Diamond Miller to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for center/forward Rayah Marshall, generating a minimum savings of $259,088.
The Portland Fire claimed forward Luisa Geiselsöder and guard/forward Haley Jones in last week’s WNBA Expansion Draft.
Up Next for the Dallas Wings
Dallas holds the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft on Monday, April 13, along with the No. 31 overall selection.
The Wings open the 2026 season on the road against the Indiana Fever on Saturday, May 9, at noon CT, before making their home debut at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, May 12, at 7 p.m. against the Atlanta Dream.
More Wings & WNBA Coverage on Dallas Hoops Journal
- ‘A Huge Priority’: Curt Miller Details Why Dallas Wings Brought Back Center Awak Kuier
- ‘High Basketball IQ’: Curt Miller Details Why Jessica Shepard Was A Free-Agent Priority For The Dallas Wings
- Sources: Dallas Wings Agree To Multi-Year Deal With Jessica Shepard In WNBA Free Agency
- Sources: Arike Ogunbowale Re-Signing With Dallas Wings On Historic Multi-Year Deal
- Sources: Dallas Wings Re-Signing Awak Kuier After Overseas Development
- Dallas Wings Trade Diamond Miller To Connecticut Sun, Acquire Rayah Marshall In Salary-Clearing Move
- Dallas Wings Extend Core Offer To Arike Ogunbowale, Qualifying Offers To Li Yueru And Grace Berger
- Portland Fire Select Luisa Geiselsöder, Haley Jones From Dallas Wings In 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft
