Arike Ogunbowale wins WNBA Cares Community Assist award for July

Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale isthe recipient of the WNBA Cares Community Assist award for July.The award recognizes Ogunbowale’s efforts towards education reformand dedication to using her platform to uplift female athletesaround the world.

As the daughter of two educators,Ogunbowale is passionate about education reform and supportingschools locally and nationally. In July, Ogunbowale led the 2023Dallas Wings' Teacher Appreciation and Back to Schoolinitiatives.

Ahead of the Wings’ Back to SchoolNight, she surprised teachers at Speer Elementary School – a publicschool with 95% of enrolled students from economicallydisadvantaged backgrounds – in Arlington, Texas with a renovatedteacher’s lounge, in partnership with Dwell with Dignity. Therefurbished lounge included new furniture and appliances, as wellas signed Ogunbowale jerseys. Additionally, one teacher wasselected through a contest to have their school supplies listcleared by the Dallas Wings Community Foundation.

Throughout the year, Ogunbowale hassupported education reform through a variety of initiatives. Lastfall, she served as principal for a day at a local middle school tolearn more about the challenges Title I schools experience. Shealso provided lunch to teachers at a local school during TeacherAppreciation Week.

In recognition of Ogunbowale’sefforts, the WNBA will make a $5,000 donation to the Kay Yow CancerFund.

Each month during the season, the WNBACares Community Assist award recognizes a player who bestdemonstrates the passion that the league and WNBA players share forgiving back to their communities.