Arike Ogunbowale is unsure about recruiting with Paige Bueckers to bring new talent to the Wings.
The second season of Unrivaled is knocking on the door, and excitement is mounting as the 3-on-3 league adds two new teams and a wave of fresh players to its lineup. The league’s first year in Miami drew attention not only for the basketball on display but also for how it became a launchpad for WNBA free agents-to-be as they weighed their next moves.
Take Brittney Griner’s bold plan to leave the Phoenix Mercury and join the Atlanta Dream last winter. That game-changing decision began at Unrivaled, alongside Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard—who would later become future Dream teammates. In return, Kahleah Copper helped recruit Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas to Phoenix, and that trio reached the WNBA Finals mere months later.
Looking ahead, the upcoming free-agent class—comprising nearly every WNBA player not on a rookie contract—gives a team like the Dallas Wings ample leverage as they aim to build around Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers.
Yet Arike Ogunbowale, the Wings’ all-time leading scorer and one of the franchise’s pending free agents, remains undecided about whether she will engage in recruiting on Dallas’ behalf.
"On a player-to-player basis, I prefer to stay out of people’s faces and minds. I won’t be pressing anyone about what they’re doing. Whatever people decide is their decision. When I understand the CBA and figure out which team I’ll be on and which one I’ll sign with, I might start some conversations, but I’m going to mind my business," Ogunbowale said during Unrivaled media availability. "If I end up talking to other free agents at Unrivaled, I’ll do it on my terms, but for now I’m focused on my own path."
Ogunbowale’s Dallas future has hung in the balance for some time. The Wings have expressed a desire to keep her for 2026, but she just completed the least productive season of her career, averaging 15.5 points while shooting 36 percent from the field.
Another factor shaping decisions is the looming possibility of a work stoppage if collective bargaining negotiations stall. If the CBA isn’t resolved soon, the 2026 season could be shortened, and that possibility weighs on every player and team.
Ogunbowale may decide to wait and see how the CBA negotiations unfold. If she does press other free agents to join her in Dallas, there’s growing doubt they’ll all be stepping onto the Wings’ roster.
More WNBA news to catch up on includes:
- How Caitlin Clark strengthened her case for Team USA in 2026
- A’ja Wilson earning Sporting News’ 2025 Female Athlete of the Year
- Ongoing conversations about revenue sharing and the CBA among Clark and peers
- Fresh WNBA jerseys unveiled by Toronto Tempo
- Caitlin Clark’s remarks about Steph Curry’s surprising shooting ability
If you have thoughts on whether Ogunbowale should actively recruit for Dallas or prefer she focus on her own free-agency decisions, share your views in the comments. Do you think signing more veterans or prioritizing young talent around Bueckers is the smarter long-term move for the Wings? And how might ongoing CBA talks influence these choices in the coming months?
