Arike Ogunbowale shocks the basketball world

Eric Catania

If you are a sports fan and hadn’t heard of the name Arike Ogunbowale before, I am sure you have now. Ogunbowale, the 5’8 guard who plays division I basketball for Notre Dame’s women’s team has surely made a name for herself recently. After hitting two game winning shots in back to back games, she has gained national recognition, including from some big names in the sports world.

Arike’s first almost magical feat was against the undefeated UCONN team in a Final Four game in the NCAAB tournament. UCONN’s team, notorious for being the most dominant team in division I women’s basketball almost every year, was 36-0 going into the game against Notre Dame. It was a very close game throughout, going all the way into overtime. Tied at 89 in the last few seconds, the ball was passed to Ogunbowale, where she put on a move her defender and sunk the jumper with only one second left on the game clock. Notre Dame would go on to win the game, and everyone was impressed with the shot, including Kobe Bryant. Even hardcore UCONN fans were wowed, as Rodney Bejabeng ‘20 said, “I’ve liked UCONN since I was like 12 or something, but that shot was something else.”

However, one was not enough, as she hit another game-winner against Mississippi State in the championship game to win it all for her school. Kobe even tweeted her again, showing his support of her efforts. Some lucky enough to catch both games were even more happy with the second shot, as John Cruz-Barcenas ‘18 said, “The first shot was amazing, but the second was on another level. To win a championship off of a shot like that is truly mind blowing.”

It has been a crazy year for college basketball, and an especially unforgettable one for Arike Ogunbowale. Not only did she hit two game winners, but she made the bigger picture better, helping to shine light on a sport that does not get enough coverage.

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)