WNBA Star Breaks Silence After Calling Out Reporter in Press Conference originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Dallas Wings suffered their 23rd loss of the season on Friday, falling 88-77 to the New York Liberty at College Park Center. Rookie star Paige Bueckers was ruled out due to a back injury sustained earlier in the week, and the Wings’ offense lacked cohesion in her absence. The team now sits at 8-23, firmly entrenched in the lower tier of the WNBA standings.
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Without Bueckers, who had been averaging 18.6 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.1 rebounds and had recorded four straight 20-point performances, the Wings struggled to generate consistent offense. Arike Ogunbowale led the team in scoring with 17 points on 6-of-16 shooting, including 12 of those points coming in a rallying third quarter. Despite narrowing a 19-point deficit to just three late in the third, Dallas couldn’t sustain the momentum and allowed New York to pull away with a strong fourth quarter.
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5).© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Arike Ogunbowale Addresses Viral Exchange With Reporter
After the loss, an exchange between Ogunbowale and ClutchPoints reporter Joey Mistretta had WNBA fans talking. Misretta asked Ogunbowale about the challenges she’s faced adjusting to the team’s new offense.
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“Let me know what you see, I see a lot of tweets from you,” Ogunbowale responded.
When Misretta responded, noting that Ogunbowale is a great player and is making adjustments, she rebutted:
“Oh, but you say a lot of other stuff on Twitter.”
Following the exchange, Mistretta later clarified on X that his comments were not meant as harsh criticism but rather reflective of her ongoing adjustment.
Amid the drama, Ogunbowale took to X on Saturday to address the situation.
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“😂😂 yall so funny. i never say anything fr, criticism’s part of the job, i welcome all of it. BUT if one day i feel like responding just stand on everything said don’t start studdering lmao. but anyway back to being quiet. God bless 🙏🏾”
Selected by the Wings with the fifth overall pick, Ogunbowale has been one of the best guards in the WNBA. However, she has continued to struggle this season, averaging a career-low in points (15.6).
Arike Ogunbowale’s Up-and-Down Season With the Dallas Wings
Ogunbowale is a four-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA All-Star Game MVP. Before the arrival of Paige Bueckers, she was widely regarded as the face of the Wings roster. This season has presented challenges—marked by inconsistency and inefficient stretches—but Ogunbowale has shown flashes of her elite form, such as a recent 37-point performance and multiple strong outings.
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Given her track record and talent, she remains capable of helping steer the Wings back on course in the final stretch, although Dallas’s chances of making the playoffs are now slimmer than ever with only 13 games left to play.
With the season almost mathematically over for the Wings, their focus will be on nurturing Paige Bueckers’ recovery and assessing roster pieces for next year. If the team can string together more complete efforts, they still have the opportunity to salvage progress in what has been a trying season.
Related: Paige Bueckers’ Dallas Wings Make Trade Decision After 22nd Loss
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
