4 weeks ago
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There are great playoff performances. Then there are performances that rewrite the record book.
Arike Ogunbowale delivered one of those Wednesday night.
With the Dallas Wings facing elimination, Ogunbowale erupted for a WNBA postseason-record 45 points and forced overtime with a dramatic late 3-pointer before Dallas defeated the Golden State Valkyries 108-100.
Just like that, the series is tied 1-1. And what looked like it might become a short postseason stay for Dallas has turned into a winner-take-all Game 3.
Arike Ogunbowale refuses to let Dallas go home
Ogunbowale's final line was staggering. She scored 45 points on 12-of-23 shooting, connected on five of eight attempts from 3-point range and made 16 of 18 free throws. She also contributed seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.
SEE YOU IN CALIIIIIIIIII 🌴🌴🌴@belk | #WingsUp pic.twitter.com/jTHZY9gaPG
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) October 1, 2026Dallas needed virtually all of it.
Golden State was ahead by three points in the closing seconds of regulation when Ogunbowale buried a difficult 3-pointer over Kayla Thornton to tie the game.
The shot forced overtime. Then Ogunbowale somehow found another gear. She scored 11 points in the extra period as Dallas finally pulled away.
The performance broke the WNBA record for points in a playoff game by three. It was also a remarkable response to Game 1.
Ogunbowale scored only 10 points during Golden State's 104-80 blowout victory in the series opener. The Valkyries appeared to have solved one of the league's most dangerous scorers.
That solution lasted one game.
This time, Ogunbowale attacked from everywhere.
She got to the rim. She got to the free-throw line. She connected from outside. And when Dallas needed someone to save its season, Ogunbowale wanted the ball.
Gabby Williams nearly answers history with history
What made Wednesday's game even more entertaining was that Ogunbowale wasn't the only player putting together a monster performance. Gabby Williams scored 36 points for Golden State on 12-of-23 shooting. She made five 3-pointers, added seven assists and collected four steals.
For most of the night, Williams did enough to keep the Valkyries positioned to end the series. Ogunbowale simply wouldn't allow it. Golden State also committed 28 fouls, and Veronica Burton and Kaila Charles eventually fouled out in overtime. Dallas repeatedly capitalized at the free-throw line.
Alysha Clark provided another enormous lift for the Wings, scoring 21 points off the bench. Perhaps the wildest part of Dallas' victory was that Paige Bueckers struggled offensively, scoring 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting. The Wings still scored 108 points.
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Game 3 suddenly becomes must-watch basketball
Now the series returns to San Francisco with everything on the line. Golden State can take some confidence from knowing Dallas needed a record-breaking performance and overtime to finally beat it. The Valkyries had already beaten the Wings four times this season, including the Game 1 rout.
Dallas can counter with something even more important. The Wings now know they can beat Golden State when the pressure is at its highest.
And Ogunbowale just reminded the entire league what can happen when one of basketball's most fearless scorers catches fire in an elimination game.
That's what makes a short playoff series so much fun. One night can completely change everything. Golden State looked firmly in control after Game 1. After 45 points, one enormous game-tying shot and an overtime takeover from Ogunbowale, nobody is in control anymore. Game 3 will decide it.
If it looks anything like Game 2, WNBA fans are in for another show.
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