Arike Ogunbowale Biography 2024 - Professional Basketball Player

Arike Ogunbowale is a professional player from the United States who began her basketball career at a young age. She is currently a professional basketball player with the Women's National Basketball Association's Dallas Wings.

She previously represented the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in collegiate basketball. Following a stellar collegiate career, Ogunbowale has risen through the ranks to become one of the WNBA's top players.

So, let's know more about the up-and-coming basketball star in this biography.

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Ogunbowale Grew Up In An Athletic Household

Arike Ogunbowale was born to parents Yolanda Ogunbowale and Gregory Ogunbowale on March 2, 1997. The athlete was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, alongside elder brothers Dare Ogunbowale and Mario Ogunbowale. Arike, as the only daughter and youngest of three children, must have been pampered by her parents.

As the basketball player grew up in an athletic family, she developed an early interest in sports. Ogunbowale's mother, Yolanda, used to play softball at DePaul University, whereas her father played soccer and rugby before joining the military. At present, he serves as the principal of Milwaukee High school. 

After growing up in an athletic household, Arike Ogunbowale and her brother, Dare, went on to have successful careers in the sports industry. Image Source: Arike Ogunbowale Twitter.

In addition, Arike's brother, Dare, is an American professional footballer who began his career with the National Football League's Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent. He presently plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars as a running back. Because of their mutual love of athletics, the siblings are pretty close and frequently praise one another for their accomplishments.

Because both of Ogunbowale's parents engaged in the sports industry at some point in their lives, they prioritized infusing a fondness of sports in their children at a young age. Their decision to include athletics in their children's lives paid off, and today Arike has gone on to have a triumphant career in the sports industry.

As a result, Arike Ogunbowale's siblings and parents must be exceptionally proud of her achievements. 

Beginning of Arike Ogunbowale's Basketball Career

Ogunbowale was a Divine Savior Holy Angels High School basketball team member, which won the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division I championship in the 2014–2015 season. Following that, Ogunbowale was named Miss Basketball 2015 in Wisconsin.

Arike continued her collegiate basketball career at the University of Notre Dame, where she averaged 11.4 points per game as a reserve player in her freshman season. Following a successful season as a reserve player, the athlete was promoted to a regular player in subsequent years.

Having started her basketball career in college, Arike Ogunbowale has already established herself as a prominent figure in the sport. Image Source: Arike Ogunbowale Instagram.

Ogunbowale was able to reach several milestones and distinctions during her collegiate career. She scored game-winning baskets in both the semifinal and final games of the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament to lead the Fighting Irish to victory. Furthermore, she was voted female athlete of the Year for all sports by the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Similarly, in her final season at Notre Dame, the sportswoman helped them reach the NCAA Tournament final. This time, though, the team was forced to confront a 1-point defeat against Baylor.

Ogunbowale's Professional Basketball Career

Ogunbowale made sure to make herself known as a force to be reckoned with during her college years. Arike's hard work on the court did not go unnoticed as the Dallas Wings soon picked her in the 2019 WNBA draft.

Since then, she played for the Dallas Wings, leading them to several championships and successes. The following are Ogunbowale's WNBA stats alongside their timelines:

In addition, after her team defeated Team USA rooster in the Women's National Basketball Association All-Star Game in 2021, the Milwaukee native was named Most Valuable Player (MVP). 

While Arike won MVP in the WNBA All-Star Game, forward Jonquel Jones was named the 2021 Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player.

Although Arike Ogunbowale's career has not been long, it has been rewarding, and she will undoubtedly continue to climb up to greater heights in the future. So, we wish the rising star every success in her future pursuits.

Arike Ogunbowale Net Worth and Earnings

Although Arike has tried her hand at many things, she is most known for her basketball career. So, naturally, it is no surprise that her primary source of earning comes through her playing career.

Arike has established herself as a notable personality despite only being a professional basketball player for a few years. However, alongside fame, Arike Ogunbowale's net worth has also increased thanks to her collegiate and professional basketball careers.

Most of Arike Ogunbowale's net worth is derived from her successful career as a professional basketball player. Image Source: Arike Ogunbowale Instagram.

According to sources, the player received a base salary of around $58,710 in the 2021 season with the Dallas Wings. However, it is estimated that the player will earn approximately $72,141 in the 2022 season.

Nonetheless, the former Notre Dame star still has a long way to go and will accumulate more riches and fame in the future through her basketball career.

Sponsorships and Partnership Deals

Furthermore, with the fame she has received as a professional basketball player, it is no wonder that sponsorship and partnership deals arise left and right for her. She has collaborated with brands such as SoleSavy and PWRFWD to promote their products. 

In addition, she has her line with PWRFWD, an athlete-to-consumer brand that offers custom-made products to engage with fans on a deeper level. The following are some of the items from her line, along with their prices: 

The emerging player has used her fame to promote her business on social media, with a large following. As a result, Ogunbowale's wealth must have increased significantly owing to the sales of her products.

Nonetheless, Arike will undoubtedly amass more lucrative collaborations and sponsorship opportunities in the coming years.

Ogunbowale Was A Part of Dancing With The Stars

In addition to sports, Ogunbowale has dabbled in the entertainment world. The professional athlete got her first taste of the entertainment industry when she got the chance to be a star athlete on the 26th season of the American popular dance competition television show Dancing with the Stars.

The athlete was partnered with Gleb Savchenko, a Russian-American dancer, choreographer, and model. The pair who was on the show for two weeks was sadly eliminated despite earning the second-highest individual score at the time of her elimination. The dancing companions did, however, come in seventh place on the show.

Let us take a look at the star's performance on the show in the clip below.

According to multiple sources, celebrities on the show begin with a base salary of roughly $125,000. However, if a star continues to survive in the competition, the contestants are paid additional weekly fees.

While the couple did not win, they did manage to reach the top 10. So, we can all agree that the exposure and admiration the star received from the show must have helped boost Arike Ogunbowale's net worth tremendously.

Similarly, while Arike did not fare well in her season, Sharna Burgess, an experienced ballroom dancer, was able to take first place the following season. 

Kobe Bryant Was Ogunbowale's Biggest Inspiration

Basketball fan or not, the name Kobe Bryant needs no explanation. He was a professional basketball player who motivated millions of young people to pursue their ambitions. And the then young and inexperienced athlete, Arike, was no exception.

Arike grew up idolizing Bryant, so we can only imagine how delighted Ogunbowale must have been on March 31, 2018, when he applauded the basketball star after Ogunbowale's game-winning shot against UConn in 2018 Final Four.

Arike Ogunbowale and Kobe Bryant shared a close bond and would often spend time together. Image Source: Arike Ogunbowale Instagram.

This small interaction led to a new friendship between the two, and Kobe even surprised her on The Ellen Show. Their bond continued to grow, and the former Laker's shooting guard even helped and guided her as her mentor.

Unfortunately, on January 26, 2020, Bryant and his daughter Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, a.k.a. GiGi, tragically died in a helicopter crash. Ogunbowale, like millions of others around the world, was devastated to learn of her idol's death.

Following Bryant's tragic death, Arike Ogunbowale got a tattoo of Bryant's iconic logo near her wrist. Similarly, she also shares the same jersey number as her mentor and idol.

Despite this, the Milwaukee native was fortunate enough to meet her idol, and indeed she will treasure the times she spent with him for the rest of her life. 

Is Arike Ogunbowale Dating Anyone?

Following a remarkable WNBA career, Arike Ogunbowale has soared to new heights of fame and adoration. Consequently, many people are curious to learn whether Ogunbowale is taken or still searching for her special someone.

Unfortunately, the athlete has kept a low profile when it comes to her personal affairs and love life. Furthermore, she rarely discusses her romantic relationships in public, thus information about Arike Ogunbowale's boyfriend or if she even has one remains a secret.

Arike Ogunbowale has remained tight-lipped about matters concerning her love life and relationships. Image Source: Arike Ogunbowale Instagram.

Moreover, while the celebrity cannot stop gushing about her professional life, no sign of Ogunbowale's other half has ever appeared on any of her social media accounts. Similarly, no dating rumors regarding the player have ever surfaced in the media.

It is clear that Arike has been too preoccupied with her responsibilities on the court to devote time to dating or developing romantic relationships. Regardless, any boy would be lucky to date the WNBA's all-star MVP, so we're hoping Arike Ogunbowale meets her future life partner soon.

Trivia and Facts

• Arike named her dog Kobe after the shocking and untimely death of Kobe Bryant.
• The athlete is of Nigerian descent.
• Ogunbowale has volunteered at Kluge Elementary School, where she mentored and assisted a third-grade class.