Nigerian-American basketball star Arike Ogunbowale erupted for 34 points, including 21 in a spectacular third-quarter performance, to lead Team WNBA to a 117-109 victory over Team USA in the WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday night. Her dominant display earned her the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, making her the third two-time MVP in the game’s history.
Ogunbowale’s performance came after a scoreless first half and a halftime pep talk from Hall of Fame coach Cheryl Miller. “She just told me to take a deep breath and play my game,” Ogunbowale said of Miller’s advice.
The 5-foot-8 guard responded by hitting 6 of 10 shots in the third quarter, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range. She finished the game 10 for 20 from the floor, including eight 3-pointers, and added six assists.
Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark, known for her own scoring prowess, praised Ogunbowale’s performance: “She was just in the zone and they played really good defense multiple times. There’s just nothing you can do in those situations where she’s making step back 3s, one-legged floaters, things like that. You literally can’t guard her.”
Ogunbowale’s scoring outburst is not unprecedented in her career. She famously hit game-winning shots in the Final Four and national championship game during Notre Dame’s 2018 title run. In the WNBA, she has been one of the league’s top scorers, averaging 22.3 points per game this season for the Dallas Wings.
This victory over Team USA, which was using the game as a warm-up for the upcoming Paris Olympics, showcases the ability of Ogunbowale to perform on big stages. “It’s just a testimony to my hard work,” she said. “Regardless of win, lose or draw, I’m just going to play my game and that’s what I’ve been doing for Dallas.”
As the WNBA season progresses and with the Olympics on the horizon, Ogunbowale’s All-Star Game performance serves as a reminder of her game-changing abilities and her potential impact on the international stage.
apnews.com
