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If anyone finds the WNBA’s physicality offensive, Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings suggests they tune into the PGA Tour instead.
‘Like, it’s gonna be physical so if you don’t want to go watch this go watch golf or something,’ Ogunbowale said after the Dallas Wings lost to the Las Vegas Aces on Wednesday night.
After absorbing a hard foul from Aces forward Alysha Clark, which left both players on the court for several moments, Ogunbowale highlighted the physical play of elite athletes in the league.
‘I don’t know how long you’ve been around the WNBA but this has been like this since my rookie year,’ Ogunbowale told Dallas sportswriter Isaac Appelt.
Chennedy Carter’s hip check (right) on Caitlin Clark has led to significant controversy in the WNBA, but according to Arike Ogunbowale (left), physical play is nothing new in this league
‘It’s basketball, it’s gonna be physical. We’re gonna compete, some people might get knocked down, some people bleed and that’s basketball.’
Discussing the media’s coverage of the WNBA, Ogunbowale expressed annoyance at the emphasis on physicality.
‘I don’t really talk about media, but it just kind of annoys me how they make such a big deal about the physicality because I mean, obviously the new people, they might be like, ‘Oh, this is tough,’ but this is just what it’s been,’ she said.
‘So the narrative has to stop of people doing this or doing that. Like it’s gonna be physical so if you don’t want to go watch this go watch golf or something.’
Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark ranks among the league leaders in fouls drawn per game
The WNBA’s strong start in terms of attendance, ratings, and digital media has been fueled by its sensational rookie class of players like Clark.
In all, there were 10 sellouts during the league’s opening week, and ESPN’s broadcast of Clark’s game had the highest viewership for a WNBA game on the network.
However, the increased attention has also brought scrutiny on the league’s treatment of star players like Clark, particularly after incidents like the hip check from Chennedy Carter.
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