Arike Ogunbowale Discusses Her Iconic Buzzer Beaters, WNBA Scoring and Playing with Paige Bueckers
Digest
This podcast covers a variety of topics. It begins with a true crime story about identity theft. The main focus is an extensive interview with WNBA player Arike Ogunbowale. She discusses her college career at Notre Dame, her WNBA journey with the Dallas Wings, her relationship with her sister, and her current season. Arike reflects on a recent high-scoring game, contrasting it with periods of self-doubt, emphasizing mental strength. She describes her All-Star game experiences, including a pivotal moment of advice from Cheryl Miller. Arike discusses her evolving definition of success, focusing on personal growth and team contribution. She also addresses overcoming injuries and adjusting her mindset, highlighting the importance of emotional control and leadership. The podcast also includes brief segments on the controversy surrounding a new Superman movie and the influence of far-right online philosopher Curtis Jarvin on the MAGA movement.
Outlines

Identity Theft and Arike Ogunbowale Interview
The episode starts with a true crime segment about identity theft, followed by an in-depth interview with WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale about her career, including her time at Notre Dame, her WNBA journey with the Dallas Wings, and her relationship with her sister.

Superman Controversy and Curtis Jarvin's Influence
This section briefly discusses the controversy surrounding a new Superman movie and introduces Curtis Jarvin, a far-right online philosopher and his influence.

Arike Ogunbowale: Performance, Mental Game, and All-Star Experiences
Arike reflects on a recent high-scoring game and the importance of mental strength. She details her All-Star game experiences and the impact of Cheryl Miller's advice.

Arike Ogunbowale: Success, Growth, and Overcoming Challenges
Arike discusses her evolving definition of success, overcoming injuries, adjusting her mindset, and focusing on emotional control and leadership.

Arike Ogunbowale: Personal Growth and Leadership
Arike identifies emotional control as a key area for personal growth, aiming to improve her leadership and teamwork.
Keywords
Arike Ogunbowale
WNBA player for the Dallas Wings; known for clutch performances and scoring ability; played college basketball at Notre Dame.
WNBA
Women's National Basketball Association; professional women's basketball league in the US; features highly skilled athletes.
Notre Dame
A prestigious private research university in Indiana; known for its strong athletic programs, including women's basketball.
Dallas Wings
A professional women's basketball team based in Dallas, Texas, part of the WNBA.
Identity Theft
A crime where someone uses another person's personal information without their consent for fraudulent purposes.
MAGA
Acronym for "Make America Great Again," a slogan used by Donald Trump. Associated with a specific political movement.
Mental Fortitude
The mental strength and resilience needed to overcome challenges and setbacks in sports and life.
WNBA All-Star Game
An annual exhibition game featuring the best players in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Leadership in Sports
The ability to inspire, motivate, and guide teammates towards a common goal.
Emotional Regulation
The ability to manage and control one's emotions effectively.
Q&A
What were some of the key challenges Arike Ogunbowale faced during her freshman year at Notre Dame?
Ogunbowale came off the bench despite being a top recruit, playing behind established players. This led to initial frustration and a desire to leave, but she ultimately persevered and improved significantly.
How did Arike Ogunbowale's relationship with her sister, Marina, impact their basketball careers?
They shared a close bond, supporting each other through similar challenges of not starting initially despite being top recruits. Their competitiveness fueled their mutual growth and success.
What is Arike Ogunbowale's current mindset and approach to the season with the Dallas Wings?
She acknowledges the team's growing pains with a new coach and players, emphasizing the importance of team chemistry and patience while striving for improvement.
How does Arike manage self-doubt during periods of poor performance?
Arike emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and grace, reminding herself that slumps are normal and focusing on her mental game to regain confidence.
What was the most memorable moment from her All-Star game experiences?
Cheryl Miller's halftime call-out to be more aggressive, which significantly impacted her performance and ultimately contributed to her MVP awards.
How has Arike's definition of success evolved throughout her career?
Her definition has broadened to encompass not only championships but also personal growth, positive team impact, and being a good teammate and person.
How does Arike approach the challenges of a rebuilding season after experiencing playoff contention?
She focuses on controlling what she can—her effort and performance—while accepting the realities of the situation and hoping for a positive outcome through the draft.
What specific areas of her game is Arike currently focusing on improving?
Arike prioritizes emotional regulation and controlling her reactions on the court to become a better leader and teammate.
Show Notes
Sue sits down with Dallas Wings star Arike Ogunbowale to talk about everything from playing with Paige Bueckers, to her two iconic buzzer beaters at Notre Dame, to scoring in the WNBA—and why defense is the real key for her. Sue also shares her view of the league, including the Valkyries’ exciting start and the extremely hot starts from New York and Minnesota.
00:00 Intro
00:14 Sue’s View
05:07 Funny Ejection Story
11:00 Choosing Notre Dame
18:46 2018 Run & Buzzer Beaters
26:42 Post-Tournament Fun
30:02 WNBA Draft & Rookie Year
35:10 Scoring vs Playmaking
42:05 Playing with Paige
50:02 All-Star MVP & Success
56:39 Final Thoughts
Help us make this show better by filling out our audience survey: http://voxmedia.com/survey
Subscribe to the Bird’s Eye View podcast with Sue Bird YouTube channel today for more interviews, reactions and highlights. New episodes out every Friday!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices





