WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale was arrested Thursday morning at a Miami club for allegedly punching a security guard.
Ogunbowale was at the club celebrating her Mist team’s Unrivaled championship, which they won by defeating the Phantom 80–74 in Medley, Fla., on Wednesday.
Miami officers were called to an unrelated altercation that happened inside E11EVEN, a 24-hour club in the city that has become known for hosting championship teams and most recently hosted the gold-medal-winning men’s Olympic hockey team.
The 29-year-old was arrested at 4:22 a.m. and charged with misdemeanor battery. Asked whether Ogunbowale was still in custody, an Unrivaled spokesperson told Front Office Sports, “She is not. She is home safely.”
According to the police report, the arresting officer was “flagged down by security personnel in reference to a physical altercation occurring inside the establishment.” The officer went to the back of the club where he “observed a large crowd being escorted out by security staff.”
The alleged victim, according to police, said “he was attempting to escort the defendant out of the establishment due to an unrelated altercation.” That’s when he says Ogunbowale “punched him in the face with a closed fist, causing him to fall to the ground,” according to the report.
“The league is aware of an incident involving Arike Ogunbowale and we are in the process of gathering additional information,” a spokesperson for Unrivaled said. “We’re in contact with Arike and her representatives.”
Excel Sports Management, which represents Ogunbowale, directed FOS to Unrivaled’s statement when reached for comment.
“The WNBPA is aware of a situation involving Arike Ogunbowale and are gathering additional information,” the WNBA’s players’ union said in a statement. “We will continue to support Arike as her Union and remain in contact with her representatives.”
Ogunbowale is the lead union representative for the Dallas Wings.
A four-time WNBA All-Star, Ogunbowale has played for the Wings since the team drafted her No. 5 overall out of Notre Dame in 2019.
“The Wings are aware of an incident involving Arike Ogunbowale and are in the process of gathering more information,” a statement from the Wings said. “Further comments will be provided once we have more details.”
Both the WNBA and E11EVEN did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
