Arike Ogunbowale recalls WNBA All-Star Game: “The basket was the ocean”

In an exclusive Q&A with SB Nation, Arike Ogunbowale reflected on her favorite career accomplishments, her new partnership with Raid Bug Spray, a love for shoes and fashion, and more.

Arike Ogunbowale is known for The Shot, a buzzer-beating basket that secured the NCAA championship for Notre Dame in 2018. The fading, off-balance game-winner was already in a category of its own, but what made it even more special was the fact it came just a few days after she sunk a game-winner in the Final Four to send Notre Dame to the title game in the first place.

It was probably one of the most clutch weeks by a single basketball player in the history of the sport.

Most recently, Ogunbowale made headlines for being the WNBA star who was left off the Olympic team — only to explode for 34 second-half points in the 2024 All-Star Game to help Team WNBA defeat the U.S. Olympians.

I sat down with a conversation with the Atlanta Dream star — a self-described lover of sneakers and fashion — to discuss her new, unique partnership with the bug spray company Raid Shoe Saver. We also chatted about what it felt like to be effectively unguardable at All-Star Weekend, matched up against the best basketball players in the world, and with 3.44 million people watching.

The following Q&A with Arike Ogunbowale was edited for brevity and clarity.

Tell me a little bit about your partnership with Raid Bug Spray.

They’re having a campaign to basically [to] stop using your shoes to kill bugs, and they partnered with me because I have a lot of shoes — a lot, a lot of shoes. Like, I have a shoe room. You just go to RaidShoeSaver.com and you can scan the tag on your shoe on the website, and then you can get savings on Raid products.

What made you become so passionate about collecting shoes?

It all started when I was young, from my mom — she would always have different types of shoes. It wasn’t really sports shoes back then, but all different types of shoes. When I was younger, I had a whole bunch of Vans, Sperrys. I just had a love for shoes.

Then, my older brother loved Jordans [sneakers], so I would just see his shoes, and want his shoes. It all just started from there.

You’ve become pretty well-known for your style — is there a particular place or person from which you draw fashion inspiration?

I’m on social media a lot, and there’s a lot of people that I feel like dress well. So, I’m always looking and seeing new things to buy, or somebody has a cool shirt, cool shoes or something — I might buy it. Like, that’s just what I do, and then I’ll put something else together with it. So, really, the world,

I feel like the world is inspiration, not really anybody specific. I love people who can dress well, whether they’re celebrity or they’re a regular person. If your style is cool and I like some of the stuff you wear, I might, you know, buy some stuff or kind of take some stuff from

The WNBA has brought in a lot of new fans this season. What do you want people who aren’t familiar with your game to know about you?

I’m just exciting to watch. When I’m on the court, I’m super competitive. I want to win. I love the game of basketball. I love to play. But I also like a little flash — little stuff for the fans, excitement. When they watch me play, they’ll get entertainment for sure.

A lot of people were introduced to you when they tuned into the 2024 WNBA All-Star game. From your perspective, what did the experience of scoring 34 second-half points feel like?

It’s just like everything’s easy — the basket was the ocean. When you throw it up, it’s a ‘gonna go in regardless’ type thing, those kind of zones where you’re just feeling good, You feel like you’re at open gym, or you feel like you’re at practice, you just feel like you’re in the backyard, just in a vibe where it’s just really fun and enjoyable.

Everybody you’re playing with is having fun. Those moments are definitely special.

Have you had the chance to reflect on where the All-Star game ranks within your long list of basketball accomplishments?

I always enjoy the moments like All Star MVP. In college, I won a national championship, and I definitely enjoy those moments when they come. But, I think when my career is over, I’ll actually be able to sit back, and just actually sit in it, and think — and just remember all the good times.