Arike Ogunbowale Wins the WNBA All-Star MVP in a Special Nike Kobe 6
To earn the MVP award, Ogunbowale scored 34 points, setting a WNBA All-Star Game record.
Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale earned 2024 WNBA All-Star Game MVP honors on Saturday night, and she did so in style.
When she hit the court at the Footprint Center in Phoenix for the star-studded event, Ogunbowale had a “WNBA All-Star” player exclusive pair of the Nike Kobe 6 Protro laced up. The look, which was revealed prior to the weekend of events by Vanessa Bryant, the wife of the late NBA icon Kobe Bryant, was dressed in a watermelon hue on the upper with hits of bright green. The shoe’s insole featured a basketball graphic with flames and the text “ASW24,” a nod to the annual event.
To earn the MVP award, Ogunbowale scored 34 points, setting a WNBA All-Star Game record. Her effort led Team WNBA to a 117-109 win over Team USA.
Leading up to the All-Star break, Ogunbowale has averaged 22.3 points, 5.2 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game for the Wings. With the Olympics here, there will be an extended time off before Dallas and Ogunbowale hit the court again, with the next game scheduled for Aug. 16, a home matchup against the Connecticut Sun at the College Park Center Arlington, Texas.
Aside from Ogunbowale, other members of Team WNBA offered solid performances, including Reebok-backed rookie Angel Reese, who had yet another double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Nike athlete Caitlin Clark, who dished out 10 assists. Other top scorers for the team included Allisha Gray, who posted up 16 points after winning both the WNBA Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest on Friday, as well as Nneka Ogwumike (14) and Kelsey Mitchell (13).
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.