WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale arrested in Miami during Unrivaled championship celebration

Four-time WNBA All-Star and Unrivaled League standout Arike Ogunbowale was taken into police custody early Thursday after an alleged altercation at a Miami nightclub, police records showed.

Miami-Dade officers arrested Ogunbowale around 4:30 a.m. after an unnamed man was suspected of being beaten at Club E11EVEN. News Sports Radio reported, citing law enforcement sources, that a man was hit “in the face and fell to the ground.” The incident was allegedly recorded.

Ogunbowale was on site to celebrate the Unrivaled 2026 championship win.

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Mist’s Arike Ogunbowale (24) looks on against Hive during the second quarter of an Unrivaled 2026 game at Sephora Arena on January 31, 2026, in Medley, Florida. (Rich Story/Getty Images)

According to police, surveillance footage from the nightclub supported the alleged victim’s account. The 29-year-old Dallas Wings guard faces a misdemeanor assault charge and was released on $1,000 bond.

Unrivaled addressed the incident in a statement saying, “The league is aware of an incident involving Arike Ogunbowale and we are in the process of gathering additional information,” a spokesperson told ESPN. “We are in contact with Arike and his representatives.”

Arike Ogunbowale (24) of The Mist celebrates after defeating The Phantom during the 2026 Unrivaled Championship game at Sephora Arena on March 4, 2026 in Medley, Florida. (Leonardo Fernández/Getty Images)

In a statement to News Digital, the Wings said they are “aware of an incident involving Arike Ogunbowale and are in the process of gathering more information. Further comment will be provided once we have more details.”

Ogunbowale scored 19 points in Wednesday’s Unrivaled title game, but the Mist’s 80-74 victory over the Phantom at Miami’s Sephora Arena generated some controversy.

Mist wing Arike Ogunbowale (24) celebrates with his teammates after winning the Unrivaled championship against the Phantom at Sephora Arena on March 4, 2026, in Miami, Florida. (Sam Navarro/Image Images)

Late in the game, with Ogunbowale and The Mist within one point of victory, Breanna Stewart was called for an offensive foul on a drive to the basket.

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Mist coach Zach O’Brien quickly questioned the referee’s decision, which was ultimately overturned. Stewart then went to the free throw line to clinch the upstart league title, marking the second consecutive year the Unrivaled championship was clinched at the foul line.

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