Notre Dame’s Arike Ogunbowale hit not one, but two buzzer beaters to help help the Fighting Irish its first women’s basketball national championship in 17 years.
After hitting the first game-winner, Ogunbowale she shouted out Kobe Bryant as her inspiration, saying, “I know I just had to shoot it at the last minute.
I mean, I didn’t want to give them a chance to get the ball. I went into Mamba Mentality. Kobe’s here, so that’s what I had to channel.”— gifdsports (@gifdsports) April 2, 2018
Kobe, who was in attendance, got wind of Ogunbowale’s reference and praised the junior guard on Twitter.
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) March 31, 2018
As one would expect, Ogunbowale was blown away by Bryant shouting her out.
— Arike Ogunbowale (@Arike_O) March 31, 2018
Bryant then told her to finish the job on Sunday.
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) March 31, 2018
Which she most definitely did.
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) April 2, 2018
So when Ogunbowale appeared on Ellen, Degeneres had an amazing surprise for her: The Mamba himself.
