It took one half, but the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game became the Arike Ogunbowale show.
After the Wings guard went scoreless in the first two quarters against Team USA, Ogunbowale reminded everyone of her status as one of the best scorers in the game. By the end of the third frame, Ogunbowale had 21 points to her name, the product of what could best be described as a scoring clinic.
Ogunbowale's performance warrants a closer look, especially because it came against the U.S. women's national team.
The 27-year-old missed out on the U.S. Olympic team in 2021, when she stood out as one of the biggest snubs. She removed herself from consideration in 2024 after pointing out the "politics" of roster selection.
Both times, Ogunbowale underlined her absence from the Olympic roster with MVP performances against Team USA at the WNBA All-Star Game. Here is what she did Saturday in Team WNBA's 117-109 win in Phoenix.
MORE: Full stats, highlights from 2024 WNBA All-Star Game
Arike Ogunbowale stats
After not registering a point in the first half, Ogunbowale finished with an All-Star Game record 34 points on 10-of-20 shooting to go along with six assists, three rebounds and two steals.
To break that down even further, here's what her third quarter looked like:
- 10 minutes
- 21 points
- 4 assists
- 1 rebound
- 6-10 (60.0%) field goal shooting
- 5-7 (71.4%) 3-point shooting
- 4-5 (80.0%) free throw shooting
Twenty-one points. Ten minutes. As ESPN's Ryan Ruocco said during the WNBA All-Star Game broadcast, Ogunbowale was on a heater worthy of Phoenix in July.
OMG ARIKE ARE YOU SERIOUS?! 🤯
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 21, 2024
Arike Ogunbowale is 5-7 from 3-point land in the 3Q alone!@ATT #WNBAAllStar | ABC pic.twitter.com/EwaHJreB0v
More than the numbers themselves, what stood out was the manner in which Ogunbowale went about her business on the offensive end of the floor.
Whether she was picking and rolling into a one-legged fadeaway, shooting a trey off of a dribble-handoff or nailing a stepback 3 from the corner, Ogunbowale did several things that Team USA's defense had no answer for.
Imagine having to guard this. pic.twitter.com/sXr2eugA1t
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) July 21, 2024
The third-quarter showing swung the momentum in Team WNBA's favor and put Ogunbowale in position to take home All-Star Game MVP honors for the second time in her career.
It also stamped her status as one of the best bucket-getters in the world.
"I don’t think we have anything to prove — we’re here, we’re All-Stars," she said before the game. “But it’s just a little more because they’re about to go to Paris. They’re training, this is like a practice game. It’s just a more competitive vibe. Obviously, they want to win and go into the Olympics right.
"We’re competitiors, too. We want to win just because we want to win."
