UPDATE 5/7/26 at 5:00 p.m. — Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale has spoken out after the battery charge against her was dropped following a court hearing on Wednesday, May 6.
A judge dismissed the misdemeanor charge nolle pros, meaning the prosecution decided it no longer wanted to pursue charges.
“We are pleased that the State Attorney’s Office has exercised its discretion and elected not to move forward with this matter,” Wings attorney Mitch Schuster said in a statement to ESPN on her behalf. “Ms. Ogunbowale is a person of outstanding character, and we are excited that these charges have been dismissed so she can resume her focus on her professional career.”
Original story below.
WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale was arrested after a celebration inside a famous Miami nightclub went south.
Ogunbowale, 29, was arrested on a battery charge at 4:20 a.m. on Thursday, March 5, according to a booking record obtained by Us Weekly. She was released after posting a $1,000 bond.
Ogunbowale allegedly punched a man in the face at E11VEN nightclub in Miami as she and her Mist teammates were celebrating winning the Unrivaled championship on Wednesday, March 4, according to a complaint obtained by TMZ.
After an altercation allegedly broke out inside the club, a group of people, including Ogunbowale, were being escorted to a rear exit.
An officer who was attempting to help the group leave was allegedly punched in the face by Ogunbowale, causing him to fall to the ground.
In videos shared before the arrest, Ogunbowale could be seen partying inside E11VEN with her Mist teammates Paige Bueckers and Aziaha James.
Journalist Andy Slater was the first to break the news.
Arike Ogunbowale Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department
“The league is aware of an incident involving Arike Ogunbowale and we are in the process of gathering additional information,” an Unrivaled spokesperson said in a statement to ESPN. “We’re in contact with Arike and her representatives.”
Ogunbowale’s WNBA team, the Dallas Wings, also issued a statement about the arrest.
“The Wings are aware of an incident involving Arike Ogunbowale and are in the process of gathering more information,” the team told ESPN. “Further comments will be provided once we have more details.”
E11VEN nightclub has become famous for hosting championship sports teams after major victories.
Just last week, the Team USA men’s hockey team celebrated their gold-medal win at the club.
The nightclub refused to comment on the incident involving Ogunbowale but told TMZ, “We are proud that E11EVEN Miami continues to be the location of choice for so many people to celebrate major moments and milestones.”
A spokesperson added, “We were thrilled to have served as the venue for the official championship after party for the Unrivaled champions and are honored that athletes and teams across multiple sports consistently choose E11EVEN to celebrate their victories. We remain committed to providing a world-class environment that reflects the energy, excitement and prestige of those moments.”
