Official release from the University of Notre Dame as Arike Ogunbowale Earns First WNBA Scoring Title
Sets record for second-year players
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame women’s basketball alumna and current Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale won the 2020 WNBA Peak Performer Award in scoring after leading the league with her 22.8 points per game. Ogunbowale will receive a trophy crafted by Tiffany & Co. in honor of her accomplishment.
Ogunbowale averaged her 22.8 ppg over 22 games and set a new WNBA record for second-year players. In addition, her 22.8 ppg ranks as the eighth best single-season scoring average in league history and second best in Wings’ history (Liz Cambage averaged 23.0 ppg in 2018).
For comparison, Ogunbowale averaged 19.1 ppg during her rookie season, and in 2020, the former Irish sensation became more efficient. The Milwaukee native improved both her true shooting percentage (52.1) and effective field goal percentage (46.6).
Ogunbowale registered four games with at least 30 points, including a career high 39 points against the Washington Mystics on Sept. 6 and 38 points against the Chicago Sky on Sept. 11. Ogunbowale shot at least 50 percent from the field in all four of her 30-point games.
In addition, Ogunbowale and Las Vegas’ Aja Wilson led the league with 15 games of 20 or more points.
Ice Twice was back at it again as well, recording two buzzer-beaters over the final week of play. In fact, Ogunbowale drilled the game-winner against the New York Liberty to end the regular season, which nearly sent the Wings into the WNBA playoffs, falling one game shy.
Lastly, Ogunbowale became the third fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,000 career points, doing so in just 51 games.
— ND —