Arike Ogunbowale scored 45 points, a WNBA playoff record, as the Dallas Wings beat the Golden State Valkyries 108-100 in overtime Wednesday night. The victory forced a decisive third game in their first-round series, after one player’s determination under maximum pressure drove a stunning comeback.
With 4.1 seconds left in regulation and the score tied, Ogunbowale hit an off-balance corner 3-pointer to force overtime. She wasn't done. She opened the extra period with a banked-in 3-pointer, then made another with 1:46 remaining to give Dallas a 103-100 lead it wouldn't give up. She scored 22 points across the fourth quarter and overtime, 11 in each period, shattering her previous playoff best of 24 points and career high of 41.
The finish turned chaotic. After Ogunbowale's tying 3-pointer, officials initially called an offensive foul on Gabby Williams during the inbound play, which would have sent Dallas to the free-throw line. Replay review overturned the call and set up a jump ball at center court with 3.0 seconds left. Golden State's desperation shot missed after the buzzer.
The Cost of Competition
The physical toll showed. In overtime, with the score tied at 98, Ogunbowale and Tiffany Hayes had to be separated after making contact. Officials gave both players flagrant fouls, and each made two free throws with 2:26 remaining. The Valkyries didn't score again. They shot just 2 of 12 in overtime, a 16.7 percent clip that proved decisive.
Williams scored a career-high 36 points for Golden State in the regular season or playoffs, but missed all six of her shots in the final 1:31 of overtime and finished 12 of 23 from the field. Dallas' Alysha Clark matched her playoff career high with 21 points, while Aziaha James added 13. Kaila Charles scored 14 points for the Valkyries, and Kayla Thornton had 13. Cecilia Zandalasini, who led Golden State with 22 points in the series opener, managed just three shots and five points.
What's at Stake
The deciding Game 3 is set for Friday night in San Francisco. Golden State won the series opener by 24 points and is seeking its first playoff advance in the franchise's second season. Paige Bueckers, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick and Rookie of the Year, scored just 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting in her postseason debut. Star power and draft position don't guarantee playoff success.
Dallas' comeback against a team that dominated the opener shows how unpredictable playoff basketball can be, and how much individual excellence matters when the stakes are highest. Ogunbowale's 45 points show what one player can do when she gets the ball and the moment demands everything.
Why This Matters:
Ogunbowale's historic performance, the most points ever scored by a player in a WNBA playoff game, highlights the extraordinary talent in women's professional basketball and the pressure on individual players to carry their teams. The Wings' comeback from a 24-point deficit in the series shows the competitive balance emerging in the WNBA, where younger franchises like Golden State can now compete at the highest level. Friday's deciding game in San Francisco will determine which team advances, and whether the Valkyries can establish themselves as a genuine playoff contender or experienced players and teams like Dallas will reassert control. For women's basketball fans and the broader sports community, this series offers the dramatic, talent-driven competition that drives investment, viewership, and institutional support for women's athletics.