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Arike Ogunbowale stuns Hannah Hidalgo with wholesome gifts while reliving her iconic shot
Dallas Wings star Arike Ogunbowale surprised her alma mater Notre Dame's standout player, Hannah Hidalgo, during her interview with Red Bull last week. Being a Red Bull-partnered player herself, Ogunbowale welcomed Hidalgo on behalf of the brand with a gift that included a hat, a beanie and an AirPods Max, along with a couple of Red Bull cans.
Ahead of Ogunbowale entering the room, Hidalgo was speaking of how she used to cheer against the Notre Dame Irish before Ogunbowale hit her legendary championship-winning shot in 2018. At that moment, Arike walked into the room, interrupting Hidalgo and enacting the shot.
Watch the segment from 1:20 here:
Further, when Arike Ogunbowale asked Hannah Hidalgo who would win a game between the current Irish and the 2018 national championship-winning roster, Hidalgo unsurprisingly picked her team.
Hidalgo recently made headlines when she became the fastest player in the Notre Dame program's history to reach 1,000 career points. She gave a shoutout to Ogunbowale and other former stars from the program after reaching the milestone in just 44 games.
“Honestly, it’s truly a blessing to be able to reach that goal, considering all the guards ― Arike Ogunbowale, Skyler (Diggins-Smith), Jewel (Lloyd) ― all these top guards that have come through this program,” Hidalgo said. “I’m truly blessed and honored to have this accolade.”
So far in the 2024-25 season, Hidalgo is averaging 25.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 4.2 steals while shooting 48.0% from the field, including 43.1% from beyond the arc.
Arike Ogunbowale's day back at Notre Dame roots
Surprising Hannah Hidalgo was just one of many checks during Arike Ogunbowale's day back at Notre Dame. The Wings guard went on to reminisce about her time at her alma mater and also had a practice session at her previous home court.
Ogunbowale also caught the Fighting Irish's matchup against the UConn Huskies on Thursday and received a fitting welcome at the game. The matchup concluded with then-No. 8 Notre Dame defeating then-No. 2 UConn 79-68, led by Hidalgo's double-double performance of 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. The win lifted the Irish to No. 3 in the AP poll.
Ogunbowale shared a peek into her day at Notre Dame with a series of snaps and videos on Instagram.
Before Thursday's matchup, the UConn Huskies were undefeated in the season. After the game, Arike Ogunbowale congratulated the Fighting Irish and addressed them in the locker room.
"It was amazing watching y'all, and coaches would always tell us that these years go by fast, like while you're in it, you might not feel it," she said. "We're six years removed, and this is like our best memory.
"I know you're looking forward, I know you want to win the tournament, but each game, cherish that moment, tonight celebrate 'cause you gonna remember this when you 27, 30, 40 ...
"So these are the best memories you literally make in your life with your family, with your sisters, with your coaches, cherish this moment. It's not over, but it's a big win."
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish currently have a 9-2 record for the season and are riding a four-game winning streak.
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