Arike Ogunbowale on Wings' playoff push: "It's really up to us"

The Dallas Wings guard spoke with Yahoo Sports WNBA analyst Isis 'Ice' Young after the team's mindset entering the post-Olympic break.

Video Transcript

Coming out of the break your team right now in 12th place, 4.5 games out of a playoff spot.

What, what's the mindset?

Yeah.

Uh, the mindset is to go out and kill.

Obviously, you know, the first half wasn't what we've liked.

Um, couple injuries, you know, but that's not an excuse really.

Just, uh, we're back home now, we're back with the roster that we thought we would start the season with.

So I'm excited about that.

So, you know, it's really up to us, you know, whatever happens, happens, but all we can do is play hard and try to win games and that's what we're gonna do.

Hm.

You talk about getting the roster back so we can discuss some of those players.

Satu Sly coming back.

She recently played in the Olympics with Germany last year's most improved player.

Uh, and then Maddie Segers, a player who's taken a leap from year one to year two.

What makes you the most excited about those two returning to the fold and getting a chance to play with them again?

Healthy?

Yeah.

Uh, Maddie was on p to be most improved player before she got hurt.

She started off the season really, you know, a big key piece to what we had going on.

It still will be.

She looks good, you know, she's gotten her rest with her finger now she's back.

She looks good.

And then obviously, so, you know, all star, first of all, first double NBA team, uh most improved player last year.

So getting her back is, you know, you don't really have to even say much about that.

We know what we're getting with that.

So I'm just excited to have them back.

Yeah, let's talk about your play on the court this year.

You picked up your defensive intensity, you know, averaging a career best in steals, leading the w in steals.

What about you in the off season said, hey, this area of my game needs to grow and made you focus on that.

Yeah, I think I just, I've always had the athleticism for it and it's just me, you know, taking that step, but it's really wasn't really about that.

It's more a mental defense that you've learned.

Like you actually have to study the players at your garden because everyone I think w can score.

So with that, you have to see like players weaknesses, you have to see, you know, their tendency.

So I tried to step it up in that, you know, be a two way player and hopefully get on, you know, all defensive team this year.

That's the goal.

But uh, yeah, lead league and steals.

That wasn't like the goal, but I mean, when you step it up defensively, things happen and, you know, being me as an athlete, you know, that can happen.

So hopefully I continue that in the second half, but I think, you know, part of my game that's been the most proud I've been of my play so far this season, my defense.