Stop us if you’ve heard this before: Arike Ogunbowale has been balling out for the Dallas Wings.
In her fifth year with the Wings, Ogunbowale has started the 2023 WNBA season on an absolute tear, leading the league in scoring through the first week of the season at 26.5 points per game. According to Across the Timeline, Ogunbowale has scored 20 or more points in 58 percent of the games she’s played in her WNBA career, so it’s not exactly a surprise that she’s once again carrying the offensive load for Dallas; it has, however, been particularly crucial for the Wings, who have started the season 2-0 (wins over the Atlanta Dream and Seattle Storm) despite missing several key pieces.
Diamond DeShields, who was set to play a significant role for the Wings after the team acquired her via trade this past offseason, is out indefinitely due to a knee injury, while first-round draft pick Lou Lopez Sénéchal will also be shelved for at least six weeks after undergoing a knee procedure. These absences have greatly limited the Wings’ options on the perimeter and forced Ogunbowale into even heavier playing time: She’s played 78 out of a possible 80 total minutes thus far.
Fortunately for the Wings, Ogunbowale is well-equipped for the challenge. According to Basketball…
