Arike Ogunbowale scored a WNBA playoff-record 45 points Wednesday night as the Dallas Wings beat the Golden State Valkyries 108-100 in overtime in Arlington, Texas. The win forced a deciding Game 3 in their first-round series. Ogunbowale tied the score with a 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation, then hit twice from beyond the arc in overtime to put Dallas ahead for good.
A record-setting finish
Ogunbowale’s 45 points topped her previous playoff best of 24. Her overtime 3-pointer gave Dallas a 103-100 lead and pushed her past her previous overall high of 41 points. She opened overtime with a banked-in 3-pointer. Then, with 1:46 remaining, she made another.
The guard scored 22 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, including 11 in each period. With 4.1 seconds left in regulation, she hit an off-balance corner 3 to tie the score at 93-93. That shot sent the game to overtime after Golden State had led the series opener by 24 points.
Dallas needed Ogunbowale’s record performance to force a third game. Golden State won the series opener, and the deciding game is scheduled for Friday night in San Francisco. The series winner advances from the first round.
Calls, contact and missed shots
After Ogunbowale tied the score, Golden State called a timeout. Officials then called Gabby Williams for an offensive foul on the inbound play. Replay review overturned the call, denying Aziaha James a chance to put Dallas ahead at the free-throw line. Instead, officials set a jump ball at center court with 3.0 seconds remaining.
The teams scrambled for the loose ball. Golden State’s desperation shot missed after the buzzer. The score stayed tied, and the game went to overtime. The replay decision changed the immediate outcome of the inbound sequence, but neither team scored before regulation ended.
Williams scored a career-high 36 points, her highest total in either the regular season or playoffs. She finished 12 of 23 from the field and missed all six of her shots in the final 1:31 of overtime. Golden State shot 2 of 12 in the extra period and didn’t score again after the teams were tied at 98.
At 98-98, Ogunbowale and Tiffany Hayes made contact and had to be separated. Officials gave both players flagrant fouls. Each player made two free throws with 2:26 remaining.
The series goes to a third game
Alysha Clark tied her playoff career high with 21 points for Dallas, while Aziaha James added 13. For Golden State, Kaila Charles scored 14 and Kayla Thornton had 13. Cecilia Zandalasini, who led the Valkyries with 22 points in the series opener, took three shots and scored five points in Game 2.
Paige Bueckers scored 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting in her postseason debut. Bueckers was the 2025 No. 1 overall pick and Rookie of the Year. The Valkyries are seeking to advance in the playoffs for the first time in the franchise’s second season.
Dallas’ win means the first-round series will be decided Friday night in San Francisco. The Wings forced that game with Ogunbowale’s tying shot, her overtime scoring and a 108-100 finish.