WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale pleaded not guilty Wednesday after she was charged with battery following a Miami nightclub incident in March.
Ogunbowale, 29, was arrested in early March after she was accused of punching a member of the security staff at a nightclub. The staff member was reportedly trying to escort Ogunbowale out of the establishment as part of an “unrelated altercation.” The alleged incident came hours after Ogunbowale helped Mist BC win the Unrivaled championship.
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Ogunbowale was arrested and charged with battery — a misdemeanor — for her alleged actions. She posted $1,000 bail and was released shortly after the incident.
No further court dates were set for Ogunbowale following her not guilty plea.
After starring at Notre Dame, Ogunbowale was selected by the Dallas Wings with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft. She’s spent her entire WNBA career with the team, and is a four-time All Star and three-time All-WNBA selection.
Ogunbowale — like many WNBA players — is currently a free agent. The Wings reportedly extended her a core qualifying offer Tuesday. That agreement essentially ensures Ogunbowale will return to the team for at least the 2026 WNBA season, though she could technically work out a sign-and-trade agreement if she wanted to leave.
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Ogunbowale has one major reason to stick around in Dallas. The team holds the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, and stands to gain an immensely talented young player to pair with Ogunbowale at the top of the draft.