DHJ Quick Take: Arike Ogunbowale’s Legacy of Loyalty
- The Culture Shift: Arike Ogunbowale’s decision to re-sign for less than the super max is the foundational move of the Jose Fernandez era. By prioritizing roster flexibility over personal salary, she helped facilitate the signings of Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard, proving that the franchise cornerstone is fully invested in a “championship or bust” window.
- The Notre Dame Blueprint: Arike’s comparison to her time at Notre Dame—choosing a program with a shorter championship history to “pave the way”—underscores her commitment to Dallas. In an era of WNBA “superteams,” her desire to work for greatness rather than chasing a ring elsewhere cements her status as the league’s premier “franchise-first” star.
- Depth as a Weapon: The “night and day” difference in organizational investment Arike noted is reflected in the bench. With a second unit featuring Aziaha James, Maddy Siegrist, and Awak Kuier, the Wings have effectively eliminated the “drop-off” that plagued previous seasons.
- The Backcourt Synergy: Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd both highlighted the “gravity” Arike brings. Her return to practice doesn’t just add scoring; it unlocks the floor for the young core, forcing defenses to choose between doubling a veteran All-Star or leaving the No. 1 picks open on the perimeter.
- Recruitment Power: This offseason proved that the roster isn’t just talented—it’s hand-picked. Arike’s active role in recruiting former teammates like Shepard and Unrivaled partners like Smith shows a level of player-led leadership that hasn’t existed in this locker room before.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Arike Ogunbowale could have left the Dallas Wings this offseason. She did not seriously entertain it.
The eighth-year guard was eligible for the super max under the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement but re-signed with Dallas for less in part to help the franchise add Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard in free agency. Speaking with the media Tuesday for the first time since reporting back to the team, Ogunbowale referenced her path to Notre Dame as a recruit when explaining her decision.
“That’s part of the reason, like, I went to Notre Dame. They only won one national championship before I came there, and I just, I like to be, you know, one of the first, one of the ones that paved the way,” Ogunbowale said. “A lot of people, obviously, have left Dallas. That could’ve been a route I took, but I like the hard way. I like to work for greatness.”
Ogunbowale averaged 15.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 29 games last season, shooting 36.4% from the field, 30.4% from 3-point range and 93.1% from the free-throw line.
Arike Ogunbowale Says Jose Fernandez Made Re-Signing a Priority
General manager Curt Miller said publicly during the offseason that re-signing Ogunbowale was the front office’s top priority in free agency. Head coach Jose Fernandez worked out with her shortly after he was hired and made the same case directly.
“What’s left for Arike to do here with the Dallas Wings is win a championship,” Fernandez said in March. “Paige and Arike, they are exceptional guards that can create off the bounce. They both can shoot the three. They can get to the free-throw line. It’s them understanding how they’re going to be utilized.”
Ogunbowale said Fernandez and Miller stayed in regular contact and made it clear they wanted her in Dallas long term.
“Jose made it a point, right when he got hired, to let me know that he wanted me here,” Ogunbowale said. “I love Dallas. I got drafted here. I think it’s kinda in my blood.”
Ogunbowale acknowledged she did make a comment at Unrivaled earlier in the offseason about not knowing where she would land. She said Fernandez followed up directly to reiterate his interest.
“He called me after that, like, just reiterating that he wants me here,” Ogunbowale said. “He sees a future here with me in Dallas.”
Arike Ogunbowale on Taking Less Than the Super Max
Though eligible for the super max, Ogunbowale chose to sign for less to give Dallas flexibility, which allowed the franchise to bring in Smith and Shepard. Both signings were players she helped recruit.
“God has blessed me with a good amount of money outside the court that I knew that, in order to win here, you have to take less. All the greats have done it, all the great players,” Ogunbowale said. “Vegas wouldn’t be where they are if people didn’t take less. New York has had to do the same.”
Ogunbowale played alongside Smith with Unrivaled and was a college teammate of Shepard’s at Notre Dame.
“I was able to play with her at Unrivaled, and I love playing with her. I played with Jess for two years in college,” Ogunbowale said. “To be able to get them, it was definitely worth it.”
Arike Ogunbowale on the Dallas Wings’ Organizational Investment
In her eighth season with the franchise, Ogunbowale said the organization’s investment looks different than previous years. She pointed to the new practice facility as a key factor.
“This is definitely a come-up. Even from last year, a lot of stuff is night and day,” Ogunbowale said. “The organization’s really pouring into us, and I’ve been seeing that these past couple years. The sky’s the limit, honestly. New facility coming. Just a lot of good things coming here in Dallas.”
The Wings have not made the playoffs since the 2023 semifinals. Ogunbowale has stuck around despite the team being in a rebuild, but after adding two No. 1 overall picks and recent free agency signings, she is likely to see a significant payoff this season.
“When everybody left, I figured we were gonna have to rebuild,” Ogunbowale said. “Obviously getting the last two number one picks have been huge, and like I said, this offseason was just really, really big. We gotta get good players. We gotta get players who wanna be here.”
Ogunbowale contrasted this offseason with previous Dallas roster moves.
“This is people wanted to be here. They signed here. They could have gone to other places,” Ogunbowale said. “We don’t want anybody here that doesn’t wanna be here.”
Arike Ogunbowale on Dallas Wings’ Bench and Scoring Depth
Ogunbowale said Dallas has scoring threats at every position and projects to have one of the league’s deepest benches. She also emphasized that the team will play fast and has a scoring threat at all positions.
“I think we have a lot of weapons in pretty much every position,” Ogunbowale said. “I think we’ll have one of the best benches in the league, and when you sub there won’t be any drop down. But I think we can score from everywhere. When we play fast and go, really any all five can score, so that’s definitely tough to guard.”
Miller had laid out the two-unit picture during training camp.
“When you look at potential lineups, Paige, Arike, Azzi, Jess, Alanna, and then a second unit with Odyssey, Aziaha, Maddy, Awak, and Li, that’s strong depth,” Miller said. “And we haven’t even mentioned Alysha Clark. We’re excited about the depth and how the roster is shaping up.”
Beyond Smith, Shepard, and Azzi Fudd, the Wings regained forward Awak Kuier this week after several seasons playing overseas. Paige Bueckers, Maddy Siegrist, and Aziaha James have been with the group since camp opened.
Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, Jose Fernandez React to Arike Ogunbowale’s Return to Practice
Ogunbowale was back at practice this week after her offseason stint in China, which followed her run with the Lunar Owls in Unrivaled. She missed both Wings preseason games with a right ankle injury and was on the floor with the rotation Tuesday.
Bueckers, in her second camp alongside Ogunbowale, said her return brings a constant scoring threat and pulls defensive attention off the rest of the lineup.
“It’s really fun to have her back, and to get her back into the flow of things offensively, defensively,” Bueckers said. “We talked about it in the offseason, how much we just wanna win and how much we enjoy playing together. We enjoy each other as people as well. Just to have somebody on the floor who can score on every single possession, somebody who draws a lot of defensive attention, and somebody who can score at will. To have her on the floor just brings attention and brings defensive coverages. I love playing with Rike. We have a great relationship, so it’s been really fun to have her back.”
Fudd, who got her first practice reps with Ogunbowale this week, said Ogunbowale’s perimeter threat helps open the floor for the rest of the roster.
“You look at our roster, and we have so many people, Arike included, that can spread and draw different defenders, and just make it hard for everyone to guard,” Fudd said. “And that makes it fun because then it opens up so many things for whether it’s me, Paige, a big. The floor is just completely wide open for everyone.”
Fernandez, who pushed for Ogunbowale’s return through the offseason, said she came back from her stints in China and Unrivaled prepared.
“She wants to solidify her legacy here as a Dallas Wings member in her career here,” Fernandez said. “She’s been excellent. She’s come back prepared. She had a really good off-season at Unrivaled and in China. I think it’s gonna be an easy transition for her.”
Up Next
The Wings open the regular season on Saturday against the Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. CT.
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