A combination of injuries, inconsistent play, and growing frustration has marked the 2025 season of the Dallas Wings.
During Friday night’s game, Arike Ogunbowale had a tense post-game conversation with Wings reporter Joey Mistretta that brought emotions into the spotlight. Dallas lost 88-77 to the New York Liberty, where the Wings trailed by 16 at halftime before making a spirited third-quarter push.
Mistretta inquired about the challenges Ogunbowale has faced in adapting to the team’s offense this year, and she scored 12 of her 17 points in the third period. Rather than answer directly, the All-Star guard flipped the question back to the reporter: “What have you seen?” she asked.
After Mistretta said she was still adjusting, Ogunbowale brought up other things she had noticed on his Twitter/X account.
Mistretta Questions Ogunbowale’s Fit in New Offense
Mistretta made a statement earlier in the night about Ogunbowale.“She hasn’t looked comfortable in this offense all season, with or without Paige Bueckers on the floor, as evidenced by her 3 points scored from 1-for-7 shooting in the first half. He referred to her as a great player, but he wondered about her compatibility with Dallas’ new system.
In a social media thread after the game, Mistretta addressed the interaction, explaining that her comments were not meant to be harsh criticism but rather an honest assessment of her performance during the offense.
He mentioned that he did not elaborate during the press conference to prevent a fight while other reporters were waiting to ask questions. He confirmed his admiration for Ogunbowale’s abilities, adding, “If I am hard on Arike, it’s because I know she’s great and capable of more than she has displayed this season.”
Arike Ogunbowale Fires Back on Social Media
Later, Ogunbowale responded on Twitter:
“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.”
During a turbulent start to the season for Dallas, an exchange is taking place. Entering the June 8th game against the Minnesota Lynx, the Wings had a 1-8 record, the worst record in the WNBA.
Fans have questioned first-year head coach Chris Koclanes, and when Ogunbowale was asked about his early-season performance, she focused on team-focused answers.
“We’re all in it as a team and we’re still going every day… Getting better every day.”
Despite any hesitation, she was quick to praise assistant coach Nola Henry, calling her a ‘young, hungry, and really great basketball mind.’
The contrast led to speculation about the team’s locker room dynamics and Koclanes’ position with his teammates.
According to multiple reports, the Wings are not actively searching for Ogunbowale, who is still the face of the franchise despite trade rumors.
Since being drafted in 2019, she has been the top scorer and leader of the Dallas Wings, with an average of 15.6 points this season, according to Basketball Reference.
Despite being injured, including a recent thumb issue that prevented her from playing her first game of the year.
The Ogunbowale-Mistretta chat highlights how a losing season can be stressful for Dallas, where every performance, comment, and tweet is amplified. The team’s ability to turn that stress into a turnaround is not yet known.
Arike Ogunbowale Responds to Reporter’s Twitter Comments Amid Wings’ Struggles