Underappreciated Wings' star effectively silences ridiculous critics

The first thing we need to do here is remind you who Arike Ogunbowale is because it's felt like some of you must've forgotten. The former Notre Dame star was the fifth overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft, entered the league, and was not only the runner-up to Napheesa Collier for Rookie of the Year, but received MVP votes.

She's a career 20-point per game scorer, and has been the best player on the roster since she got to the team. Last night was only a reinforcement of who she's been during her Wings tenure. She finished the night with a career-high 14 assists, but don't forget that she dished out 13 in a game last season against the Phoenix Mercury.

To summarize Paige Bueckers' statement about her talented teammate last night, put some respect on Arike's name.

Arike has been unfairly criticized this season

There was a ton of excitement surrounding the team when they drafted Bueckers with the number one overall pick, but you only get that pick because the team wasn't good. That doesn't mean they didn't have good players, and recognizing that is key to treating the team with the proper respect they deserve.

They made a lot of changes over the summer, and Ogunbowale has had to adjust her game to account for the upheaval. She went from handling the ball all the time to playing off the ball with relative consistency. that requires an adjustment period. She may have gotten off to a slow start, but it's felt like some fans had outright abandoned her, and that's just not right.

Last season was the first year that she didn't receive MVP votes in her seven-year career. She's put too much into this team for anyone to give up on her because she faced early struggles in the first quarter of the season. She began to wake up before she was injured against the Washington Mystics on June 28. The setback slowed her down, but she's found her groove again, and the Liberty felt that early on last night.

This is exactly what fans envisioned when they drafted Paige, who also had a stellar night, but it takes time to build chemistry. The Wings completely revamped their roster, adding DiJonai Carrington, Tyasha Harris, Li Yueru, NaLyssa Smith—who's since been traded— and Myisha Hines-Allen. That doesn't count the rookies playing significant minutes like Bueckers, JJ Quinerly, and Aziaha James.

Not to mention the first-year head coach, Chris Koclanes. That's a lot of change to deal with. Factor in the constant injuries the team has dealt with, which force constant lineup changes, and a condensed season, and nobody should be surprised that anyone on this team has had some difficulty settling in.

Let last night be a reminder that Ogunbowale is one of the best players this league has to offer, and don't forget it this time.