Four-time WNBA All-Star Arike Ogunbowale is signing a seven-figure, multiyear deal to return to the Dallas Wings, sources told ESPN on Friday.
Ogunbowale was extended a core qualifying offer by the Wings earlier this week, making her eligible for the $1.4 million supermax in 2026, but she is taking less than that for the team to be able to build a quality roster around her, sources said. She is committed to the franchise and city that drafted her No. 5 overall in 2019 out of Notre Dame.
The Wings have the No. 1 pick in Monday's collegiate draft. With new coach Jose Fernandez at the helm, the Wings will look to return to the playoffs with a group led by Ogunbowale and 2025 No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers.
During her time in Dallas, Ogunbowale has been a three-time all-WNBA selection, leading the league in scoring in 2020 and earning two All-Star Game MVP honors.
The 5-foot-8 guard averaged a career-low 15.5 points along with 4.1 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game in 2025 as the Wings finished last in the standings and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Prior to last season, Ogunbowale had established herself as one of the WNBA's most prolific scorers and dynamic offensive players, averaging at least 18.7 points per game in each season of her WNBA career.
Ogunbowale won an Unrivaled championship with Mist B.C. during the WNBA offseason.
Jessica Shepard, Ogunbowale's college teammate with whom she won a national championship, has also agreed to join the Wings on a multi-year deal, sources told ESPN.
Shepard previously played five seasons in the WNBA with the Minnesota Lynx, who drafted her in the second round in 2019.
The 6-foot-4 forward averaged 8.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.6 assist per game off the bench in 2025.
