Arike Ogunbowale’s tenure with the Dallas Wings has been full of ups and downs. She established herself as one of the best scorers in the game and led her team to a semifinals appearance in 2023, but also saw several head coaches and co-stars come and go. And yet, she stayed loyal to the franchise that drafted her. 2025 was the first season that seriously hinted at separate futures for the Wings and Ogunbowale. She had her worst statistical season yet, and the Wings seemed ready to hand the keys to the franchise over to rookie phenom Paige Bueckers.
Even during the season, there were rumblings around a potential trade that would send Ogunbowale to a new team for draft assets or young players that fit Bueckers’s timeline, much like the Wings did with DiJonai Carrington and NaLyssa Smith. The Wings held on to Ogunbowale, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but could still move on from her by leaving her unprotected in the expansion draft, just letting her walk in free agency, or agreeing to a sign-and-trade situation. In fact, Ogunbowale didn’t make the first list of protected Wings players in The Athletic’s mock expansion draft.
However, the Wings may not be as on board with the idea of parting ways with Ogunbowale as many fans and analysts are. Jose Fernandez appeared on the latest episode of In Case You Missed It with Khristina Williams and very much seemed to be planning for a Wings roster that still featured Ogunbowale.
Jose Fernandez is prepared to coach Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale
Wings fans have heard this a lot in recent years: things are about to change. This new head coach will usher in a new era and finally lead the Wings to some postseason success.
Jose Fernandez is determined to actually live up to those claims. He has made it very clear that he wants to win with the Wings. On In Case You Missed It with Khristina Williams, he also made it very clear that he expected Ogunbowale to be a part of that winning team.
“You have someone like Arike that’s been an All-Star, right? Leading scorer in the Wings organization,” Fernandez said about Ogunbowale. “What’s left for Arike to do here with the Dallas Wings is win a championship.”
Later, he added, “Paige and Arike, they are exceptional guards that can create off the bounce. They both can shoot the three. They can get to the free-throw line. It’s them understanding how they’re going to be utilized, and there’s got to be great communication between me and my staff and both of them on where they feel comfortable on the floor. The success we had at South Florida, our best players got the most touches…A lot of plays were run for them, and that’s not going to change here in Dallas.”
Fernandez is obviously prepared to coach both Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale next season. However, the choice is not just up to him. GM Curt Miller will also play a role in deciding whether or not the Wings want to try to re-sign Ogunbowale, and the most important factor is, of course, Ogunbowale herself. She may just feel that it is time for a new chapter and move on in free agency. She will certainly draw a lot of interest, especially from teams like Golden State, Toronto, and Portland that still need an established star.