The Dallas Wings are bringing back a core piece alongside Paige Bueckers next season.
Arike Ogunbowale is signing a seven-figure, multiyear contract to return to the team, a person familiar with the deal told The Dallas Morning News on Friday, confirming an ESPN report.
Ogunbowale has been a face of the franchise since the Wings drafted her in the first round in 2019. She was named WNBA All-Star MVP in 2021 and 2024 and was the WNBA scoring champion in 2020, when she earned All-WNBA First Team honors.
A four-time WNBA All-Star, Ogunbowale is entering her eighth season in 2026. She averaged 15.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.3 rebounds per game in 2025, recording career lows in average points and field goal percentage (36.4%). Ogunbowale didn’t finish the season due to injury.
The Wings extended a core qualifying offer to Ogunbowale on Tuesday. An unrestricted free agent entering 2026, Ogunbowale was eligible for the $1.4 million supermax, but a source confirmed details first reported by ESPN that she is taking less so that the team can build a quality roster.
More to come on this story.