Arike Ogunbowale knows how to make moments count. Whether she’s hitting championship-winning shots or dropping to one knee with a ring, the Dallas Wings star has a flair for drama that extends far beyond the basketball court. Her story isn’t just about the accolades, though they’re impressive. It’s about a Nigerian-American athlete who built a basketball dynasty while maintaining deep family roots and finding love in the spotlight.
How Did Arike Ogunbowale Become a WNBA Superstar?
Ogunbowale is a WNBA guard who plays for the Dallas Wings. Born to a Nigerian-American family on Mar. 2, 1997, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she played college basketball at Notre Dame, leading them to the 2018 NCAA Championship.
This feat earned her the Most Outstanding Player honors. Her success in college led to her being drafted fifth by the Wings in the 2019 WNBA draft. She has not been traded since Dallas selected her, though she played overseas for OGM Ormanspor and Dynamo Kursk during the WNBA offseason.
She is a three-time All-Star in the WNBA and has won two All-Star Game MVP awards. She also has two All-WNBA Team selections, once on the First Team. Additionally, she was the scoring champion in 2020 and the steals leader in 2022.
How Did Arike Ogunbowale’s Engagement Surprise Everyone?
Ogunbowale has been engaged to Lala Ronay since May 2024. The Wings All-Star shared the beautiful moments on her Instagram. Ronay had no idea that her girlfriend was about to propose to her.
Ogunbowale had roped in some friends for help, as many witnessed when the WNBA star led her girlfriend through a red carpet outdoors. In front of a giant sign that read, “MARRY ME,” the WNBA star got down on one knee and showed the ring to her partner.
Ronay is a social media influencer. Formerly, she was a soldier in the United States Army. Interestingly, Ronay has a twin sister. The siblings were born on Jun. 14, 1992.
Based in Dallas, she has built a significant online presence since 2021. Her content focuses on hair care, skincare, fitness, fashion, and lifestyle. She also runs a YouTube channel with weekly vlogs.
Ogunbowale was born to parents Gregory and Yolanda Ogunbowale. She is the youngest of three siblings. Mario is the oldest sibling. Dare, the second, is an NFL running back for the Houston Texans.
Ogunbowale’s father was in the Nigerian military, where he played soccer and rugby. He now works in administration for Milwaukee Public Schools. He was a principal at Washington High School of Information Technology in Milwaukee.
Meanwhile, Ogunbowale’s mother was an accomplished athlete. She had earned a softball scholarship at DePaul University, where she was the 1985 conference offensive MVP. She was also an all-conference prep volleyball and state champion softball player in Illinois during high school.
Ogunbowale’s second-oldest brother, Dare, was born May 4, 1994, making him around three years older than her. He graduated from Marquette University High School and joined the University of Wisconsin football team.
He was initially a cornerback, but later switched to running back. After going undrafted in the 2017 NFL draft, the Texans signed him. He is now in his second stint with the team, after signing with Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
