July 21st 2024.
On July 20, Arike Ogunbowale showed the world why she is one of the top players in the WNBA. Leading Team WNBA to victory in the league's all-star game, she was named MVP for her outstanding performance in Phoenix. It was a thrilling game, with Team WNBA emerging triumphant over Team USA with a score of 117-109. While Team USA's players will now prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympics, it was Ogunbowale's time to shine on the court.
Despite not being selected for the Olympic roster, Ogunbowale proved her worth in the exhibition match by scoring an impressive 34 points, all in the second half. This record-breaking performance led Team WNBA to victory, and she also contributed 3 rebounds and 6 assists. It was a well-deserved MVP title for the 27-year-old star.
But this wasn't Ogunbowale's first taste of all-star greatness. In 2021, she was also named MVP in a match against Team USA. As for her absence from this year's Olympic team, the athlete revealed her decision to withdraw from consideration due to the "politics" involved in the selection process. Speaking on the "Nightcap" podcast with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson before the all-star game, Ogunbowale shared her reasoning.
"I actually took my name out of the pool months ago," she explained. "When the list came out, I know everybody was like, 'Arike should've been on it.' I knew I wouldn't be on it. That's not saying I didn't think maybe last year I would be on the team, that I was good enough to make the team."
She continued, "I pretty much had an idea that I wouldn't be on it. I just felt the vibes. When it comes to that stuff, it really doesn't have much to do with your game...When I think of women's basketball and how many years I've been playing in college and pro, politics is always surrounding it. Whether that's USA Basketball, All-Star teams, [All-WNBA] first-team, stuff like that — there's politics. There's politics in everything."
Despite the disappointment of not representing her country in the Olympics, Ogunbowale's incredible performance in the all-star game proved that she is more than ready to shine on any stage. As the leading scorer in the WNBA, averaging 29.4 points per game, she may not be pursuing gold with Team USA, but she has certainly proven herself as a top player in the league.
In other news, Angel Reese was recently named the WNBA Player of the Week, further highlighting the incredible talent and skill of these amazing athletes. It's clear that the WNBA is filled with exceptional players, and Arike Ogunbowale is a shining example of that.
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