ARLINGTON, Texas — Arike Ogunbowale plans to play in the Dallas Wings‘ regular-season opener Saturday at the Indiana Fever after returning to practice Tuesday from a right ankle injury.
Ogunbowale missed Dallas’s May 3 preseason finale against the Las Vegas Aces at Moody Center in Austin with the injury. The Wings won the game 101-84 to finish the preseason 2-0 without her in the lineup, having also beaten Indiana 95-80 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 30.
Arike Ogunbowale Plans to Play vs. Indiana Fever
Ogunbowale averaged 15.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 29 games last season, shooting 36.4% from the field, 30.4% from 3-point range and 93.1% from the free-throw line.
Asked directly on Tuesday whether she expects to play Saturday, Ogunbowale was short and certain.
“Yeah, for sure,” Ogunbowale said.
Awak Kuier Practices; Other Dallas Wings Notes
Tuesday’s practice marked head coach Jose Fernandez‘s first chance to run 5-on-5 work with the projected core group on the floor together. Awak Kuier rejoined the team after finishing her season overseas, while Alanna Smith did not practice and Aziaha James went down with an injury during the workout.
Ogunbowale said the veterans returning from absences carry the responsibility of getting up to speed quickly.
“We have to do our homework outside of this learning plays, so we don’t have a lot of setbacks at practice,” Ogunbowale said. “We can just get into the flow.”
The eighth-year guard re-signed for less than the super max under the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, a decision she said allowed the Wings to bring in Smith and Jessica Shepard in free agency. Both signings, plus the addition of Odyssey Sims, joined a young core that includes Paige Bueckers, Maddy Siegrist, James, Kuier, and No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd.
Ogunbowale also said the front office’s commitment is the most pronounced she has seen during her time in Dallas.
“This is definitely a come-up. Even from last year, a lot of stuff is night and day,” Ogunbowale said. “The organization’s really pouring into us. The sky’s the limit, honestly.”
Up Next
The Wings open the regular season on Saturday against the Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. CT.
