Arike Ogunbowale’s legal situation has taken a new turn. The State Attorney’s Office has issued an update confirming it will move forward with the charge against the Dallas Wings star, despite her not guilty plea.
Police arrested the Dallas Wings guard early on March 6 after an alleged altercation at the Miami nightclub E11EVEN, where she had been celebrating Mist BC’s Unrivaled title win. Authorities charged her with misdemeanor battery and later released her on a $1,000 bond as the case moved forward.
Ogunbowale has denied the allegations, with her attorney Jeffrey Neiman entering a not guilty plea. The latest update from the State Attorney’s Office confirms prosecutors still intend to proceed with the case.
UPDATE: The state attorney’s office is moving forward with the battery charge against Arike Ogunbowale.
The WNBA star has pleaded not guilty. https://t.co/fiQgMhOMVl
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) April 8, 2026
The incident followed Ogunbowale’s 19-point performance in the Unrivaled championship game, which helped Mist BC secure the title. According to police reports, she allegedly punched a security staffer while being escorted out of the club late that night.
Police took Ogunbowale into custody at the scene before releasing her on bond. Incidents like this have been rare in her career, though she was ejected during a 2022 game—prompting her coach at the time to question her composure on the court.
The Dallas Wings recently extended a core qualifying offer to Ogunbowale, positioning her for a potential one-year supermax deal as the franchise looks to build around her and top draft pick Paige Bueckers.
The decision to move forward suggests prosecutors believe they have a strong case—raising serious questions about how this situation could impact both Ogunbowale and the Wings heading into the season.
How will this affect Arike Ogunbowale’s WNBA career?
Ogunbowale is in what many consider the peak of her career and recently added another trophy to her résumé with Mist BC’s Unrivaled championship. However, the battery charge could seriously impact her career at a critical moment.
The Wings initially responded by launching an internal review into the incident. While the team has remained publicly supportive, the ongoing situation could still influence future roster decisions.
The WNBA itself is also conducting its own investigation and has a history of issuing multi-game suspensions in cases involving physical altercations. The league could also impose financial penalties depending on the outcome.
The situation could also affect her market value, particularly if suspensions follow. If a court ultimately finds her guilty, she could face up to a year in county jail, while standard morality clauses in player contracts could further complicate her future. A potential conviction could also impact her endorsement deals, making the coming weeks critical for both Ogunbowale and the Dallas Wings.
