Arike Ogunbowale smiles after scoring the winning basket during an Unrivaled game at Sephora Arena on February 23, 2026 in Medley, Florida. Ogunbowale was arrested in Miami and released from jail on March 5, 2026.
Leonardo Fernandez
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Women’s professional basketball player Arike Ogunbowale was arrested by Miami police Thursday morning at a downtown Miami nightclub for punching a security guard, police said. Ogunbowale and her teammates were celebrating their victory in the Unrivaled championship game just hours earlier.
A Miami Police Department report said security at club E11even flagged down a Miami PD officer at 4:20 a.m. on Thursday. The officer spoke with the victim, who said he was trying to escort Ogunbowale out of the nightclub after a separate incident.
Ogunbowale allegedly punched the security guard in the face and made him fall.
The officer arrested Ogunbowale after reviewing security footage that showed the altercation.
Ogunbowale was booked at a Miami-Dade County jail on a battery charge and was released Thursday afternoon on bond.
Ogunbowale is a star for the Dallas Wings, a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) team. Hours earlier on Wednesday night, she won a championship as a player in Unrivaled, a women’s 3-on-3 league based in Medley.
Unrivaled’s season happens during the WNBA’s offseason and allows WNBA players to play in the United States rather than overseas for extra money.
As a WNBA player, Ogunbowale is a four-time All-Star.
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Miami Herald
Michael Butler writes about minority business and trends that affect marginalized professionals in South Florida. As a business reporter for the Miami Herald, he tells inclusive stories that reflect South Florida’s diversity. Just like Miami’s diverse population, Butler, a Temple University graduate, has both local roots and a Panamanian heritage.