The 12-player roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics that recently made light, hasn’t seen the best of reception. While not many fault the players selected, the bigger heat for the USA Women’s National Team Committee has been the players left out. One of those names that have caught major attention is that of Arike Ogunbowale and Chad Johnson might just state the reason why.

Ogunbowale was recently invited to NFL star, Shannon Sharpe’s recent Night Cap episode to speak of the WNBA and the Olympic roster exclusion. But before she could start, the wide receiver had a host of praise for the Dallas Wings guard.

“listen nothing but love nothing but prays for your game,” Chad began speaking of making it to his first game as Ogunbowale played the Hawks. “I watched the NBA a little bit, the first thing that came to my mind for a comparison to you based on what I saw with my own two eyes, can’t nobody tell me si*t, ‘I say listen, she look like Kyrie Irving’.”

Further, Johnson switched into fan mode and said, “It was a joy watching you play I’m coming to see y’all play again in Dallas… I need to autograph, I need a picture.” With the way Ogunbowale has been playing this season, Johnson’s fanboy moment might as well be rightly justified.

Ogunbowale has been an exceptional force since her college basketball days, securing Most Outstanding Player title in 2018. The guard rode the wave to be the No.5 pick by Dallas and make the all-rookie the very next year. In 2020, Ogunbowale clinched her first WNBA scoring title and continues the momentum today; though not first, but certainly in the top.

Averaging 26.6 points, the Dallas guard is second in the WNBA in scoring. It doesn’t stop there. Ogunbowale leads the league in steals per game with 3.1, alongside posting 4.2 rebounds and 5 assists, making the top 10 in efficiency. Call it the scoring prowess, the 27-year-old has been compared to Kyrie Irving previously by fans for a similar playing style. The Olympic snub, thus, came as a disappointment to many, but the guard reveals she predicted the outcome; withdrawing the name herself.

“I pretty much had an idea that I wouldn’t be on it so there’s trials and stuff that go on throughout the years and previous and you do it and you see the vibes and me being me I just felt the vibes like honestly when it comes to that stuff it really doesn’t have much to do with your game it’s really about who they feel like fits with the team.”

And added, “I don’t know honestly but I could already tell like that wasn’t the type of vibe they going so I actually took my name out the pool like months ago.”

As the conversation moved further, they also touched upon the revolving discourse that is currently prevailing in the sports media related to rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

Arike Ogunbowale clears the air

This year, the amount of attention WNBA is receiving is undeniably the result of the popularity that encircles the lives of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. As rookies, they have so much to achieve and learn as they grow into their roles as professional athletes.

Acknowleding the league’s newfound popularity Ogunbowale reflects upon how the rookies have brought fresh eyes to the W and helped elevating the it to a grander level. She said, “They’re bringing a lot of attention I think they should be getting credit to the point where they’ brought a lot of attention to the WNBA.

Ogunbowale also went on to state that the narrative that the players haven’t been appreciative of the impact hasn’t been accurate. She states, she ‘loves it,’ instead. “more people watching the better,” she adds. Nonetheless, the committee believes it has made the right choice with their roster and will look to claim their 8th consecutive goal.

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