Arike Ogunbowale is never one to back down from the big moment. She first came to national prominence as a basketball player at Notre Dame, where she was known for raising her level of play in key moments. She finished her college career with two memorable game-winning shots in the NCAA tournament to help Notre Dame win a national championship. “Those moments made her one of the better players in college basketball.

The story got bigger when it went to the WNBA.

Ogunbowale showed she could score quickly and was voted one of the league’s best players. Her speed, confidence, and shot-making ability made her a player that opponents could not afford to ignore. Her talents have also led her beyond basketball. Her stint on Dancing with the Stars introduced her to audiences outside the WNBA and showed a different side of her personality.

She has also given back through community and charity work and by using her enhanced profile. If no other lesson, Ogunbowale’s career trajectory teaches us one thing. She was given zilch. She’s shown time and time again that she thrives in the big moments, whether it’s in the clutch of college games or in the professional arena.