Additional Coverage:
- WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale arrested after allegedly punching a security guard at a Miami nightclub (cbssports.com)
Dallas Wings Star Arike Ogunbowale Arrested in Miami After Alleged Nightclub Altercation
Miami, FL – Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale found herself in hot water early Thursday morning, arrested in Miami following an alleged physical altercation at a local nightclub. The incident occurred while Ogunbowale was celebrating her Unrivaled championship win with the Mist at E11EVEN, a well-known 24-hour establishment.
According to police reports, the arrest took place around 4:20 a.m. outside the club. Ogunbowale was booked into Miami-Dade County jail on a battery charge, with authorities stating she allegedly punched a security worker. She was released later that afternoon after posting a $1,000 bond.
Police accounts detail that the security worker was “attempting to escort the defendant out of the establishment due to an unrelated altercation” when Ogunbowale reportedly “punched him in the face with a closed fist, causing him to fall to the ground.” The incident was reportedly captured on camera, corroborating the security worker’s statement.
Both the Unrivaled league and the Dallas Wings organization have released statements acknowledging the incident. An Unrivaled spokesperson stated, “The league is aware of an incident involving Arike Ogunbowale and we are in the process of gathering additional information. We’re in contact with Arike and her representatives.”
The Dallas Wings, referring to their four-time All-Star and two-time All-Star Game MVP, echoed a similar sentiment: “The Wings are aware of an incident involving Arike Ogunbowale and are in the process of gathering more information. Further comments will be provided once we have more details.”
While the incident occurred during the WNBA offseason, the upcoming season for the Wings is slated to begin on May 9 against the Indiana Fever, assuming ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations do not result in a lockout.