Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale is the recipient of the WNBA Cares Community Assist award for July. The award recognizes Ogunbowale’s efforts towards education reform and dedication to using her platform to uplift female athletes around the world. 

As the daughter of two educators, Ogunbowale is passionate about education reform and supporting schools locally and nationally. In July, Ogunbowale led the 2023 Dallas Wings' Teacher Appreciation and Back to School initiatives.

Ahead of the Wings’ Back to School Night, she surprised teachers at Speer Elementary School – a public school with 95% of enrolled students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds – in Arlington, Texas with a renovated teacher’s lounge, in partnership with Dwell with Dignity. The refurbished lounge included new furniture and appliances, as well as signed Ogunbowale jerseys. Additionally, one teacher was selected through a contest to have their school supplies list cleared by the Dallas Wings Community Foundation.

Throughout the year, Ogunbowale has supported education reform through a variety of initiatives. Last fall, she served as principal for a day at a local middle school to learn more about the challenges Title I schools experience. She also provided lunch to teachers at a local school during Teacher Appreciation Week.

In recognition of Ogunbowale’s efforts, the WNBA will make a $5,000 donation to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

Each month during the season, the WNBA Cares Community Assist award recognizes a player who best demonstrates the passion that the league and WNBA players share for giving back to their communities.