wnba

Arike Ogunbowale can’t stop kicking things


Published: 06/14/22
Arike Ogunbowale can’t stop kicking things
All you need to know about the biggest stories in sports and how to bet on them, sent straight to your inbox.

Sent twice weekly so you can stay on top of what’s good in sports.

One of the WNBA’s best scorers is going through a bit of a kicking phase that peaked on Sunday as a ball was accidentally launched toward fans. 

Right before halftime against the Storm, Arike Ogunbowale attempted to stop a long rebound from a halfcourt chuck by holding out her foot, but the ball took a bounce off her right boot and instead of staying grounded, lifted in the direction of the crowd.



Ogunbowale was ejected per league rules that state a player must be ejected for “kicking or throwing the ball which enters the stands with force.”

The guard took to Twitter to explain her actions:



“I think that incident happened in L.A. as well if I’m not mistaken,” Wings head coach Vickie Johnson said after the game. “We’re not on a soccer field. We’re on a basketball court. And you have to respect the game, period… We play basketball with our hands, not our feet.”

Ogunbowale’s brother, Dare, a running back for the Houston Texans, responded on Twitter:

Johnson was referring to an incident two weeks earlier when Ogunbowale, out of frustration, kicked a scorers table in a game against the Sparks out of frustration. She was ejected then, too.


The Wings are in a tough stretch, losing five of their last six games, though Ogunbowale’s logged 16 or more points in eight straight games until the halftime ejection.






Recommended for you