Arike Ogunbowale hits WNBA playoff-record 45 points as Wings beat Valkyries in overtime
The Dallas guard scored 22 points across the fourth quarter and extra period to force a series decider in San Francisco.
Arike Ogunbowale scored 45 points, the most in any WNBA playoff game in league history, to lift the Dallas Wings past the Golden State Valkyries 108-100 in overtime on Wednesday night.
The victory in Arlington, Texas, levelled the best-of-three first-round series at 1-1, keeping Dallas alive after a 24-point drubbing in the opener and forcing a deciding Game 3 in San Francisco.
How Ogunbowale forced overtime
Dallas trailed late before Ogunbowale dragged the seventh-seeded Wings level. With 4.1 seconds left in regulation, the four-time All-Star drained an off-balance three-pointer from the corner to tie the game at 93-93.
Chaos followed on the ensuing inbound pass. Referees initially called Golden State forward Gabby Williams for an offensive foul, which would have sent Dallas guard Aziaha James to the free-throw line with a chance to win it. After a video review, officials overturned the whistle, ruling a centre-court jump ball with three seconds remaining. Neither side could capitalise, sending the contest into extra time.
Ogunbowale finished the fourth quarter and overtime with 22 points — 11 in each. She blew past her previous post-season best of 24 points midway through the fourth, before eclipsing her career high of 41 in the extra session.
Late scuffle and deciding run
Ogunbowale opened overtime with a banked three-pointer, but the game briefly unspooled with the score tied at 98-98. Ogunbowale and Golden State's Tiffany Hayes collided away from the ball and had to be separated by teammates. Officials handed both players flagrant fouls, with each converting two free throws with 2:26 remaining.
From there, Dallas took over. Ogunbowale sank a pull-up three-pointer with 1:46 left to give Dallas a 103-100 lead. The Valkyries never scored again, missing their final six shots and ending overtime shooting just two of 12 from the floor.
Ogunbowale’s historic performance offset a quiet postseason debut for Wings rookie Paige Bueckers. Golden State held the 2025 No. 1 overall pick to 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting. 38-year-old reserve Alysha Clark stepped into the breach, equalling her playoff career best with 21 points, while James added 13.
"I can’t even put into words what she just did," Bueckers said of Ogunbowale. "She really carried us."
Williams paced the second-seeded Valkyries with a career-high 36 points on 12-of-23 shooting, but went cold when it mattered most, missing all six of her attempts in the final 91 seconds of overtime.
What happens next
The teams play the deciding Game 3 on Friday night at Chase Center in San Francisco. Golden State, playing in only their second WNBA season, are trying to reach the second round for the first time.
"That was not our best," Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase said. "Tomorrow’s got to be clear minds, clear focus, clear game plan, and then be ready to go for the game at home."
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Points scored by Arike Ogunbowale | 45 | Official game box score |
| Points scored by Gabby Williams | 36 | Official game box score |
| Final score | Dallas Wings 108, Golden State Valkyries 100 (OT) | Official game box score |
| Ogunbowale points in 4th quarter and overtime | 22 | Official game box score |
| Golden State field-goal shooting in overtime | 2 of 12 | Official game box score |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Arike Ogunbowale | Dallas Wings guard who scored a WNBA playoff-record 45 points. |
| Golden State Valkyries | Second-year WNBA franchise currently tied 1-1 in the first-round series. |
| Dallas Wings | WNBA team that won Game 2 to stay alive in the first-round series. |
