Ogunbowale scores WNBA
playoff-record 45 as Wings win in OT to force deciding game with
Valkyries
[October 01, 2026]
By SCHUYLER DIXON
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Arike Ogunbowale was standing near Paige
Bueckers waiting for the star guard to make a move on her dribble
with the Dallas Wings trailing by three as the final seconds of
regulation — and their season — ticked away.
Bueckers waved toward her backcourt mate, but she wasn't telling
Ogunbowale to get out of the way. She was telling her to get open.
After all, Bueckers knew who the hot hand was — and it wasn't the
2025 No. 1 overall pick and Rookie of the Year who is in her first
playoff series.
Ogunbowale took a pass from Bueckers on the left baseline, dribbled
toward the corner and hit an off-balance corner 3-pointer, sending
the game to overtime and her on the way to a WNBA playoff-record 45
points as the Wings won a thriller 108-100 on Wednesday night,
forcing a Game 3 in their first-round series.
The deciding game will be Friday night in San Francisco, where the
Valkyries won the series opener by 24 points.
Golden State is trying to advance in the playoffs for the first time
in the franchise’s second season. The Wings are trying to reach the
semifinals for the second time in six postseason appearances since
moving to the Dallas area in 2016.
Ogunbowale opened the extra period of Game 2 by banking in a 3, then
hit another one to put Dallas ahead for good at 103-100 with 1:46
remaining. The four-time All-Star easily topped her previous playoff
best of 24 points after scoring 10 points on just seven shots in the
series opener.
“We felt like we got pushed around out there when we played in San
Francisco and especially me personally I don’t feel like I was
aggressive,” said Ogunbowale, who was 5 of 8 from beyond the arc, 12
of 23 overall and 16 of 18 on free throws. “I didn’t know what I
would score. I was going to shoot regardless because I just feel
like seven shots isn’t enough to win playoffs and I have to be
aggressive whether it’s going in or not.”
Bueckers, who scored 10 points, was mired in a 3-for-13 shooting
night that included an air ball on a 3-pointer with the Wings
trailing by three in the final two minutes of regulation. But she
assisted on Ogunbowale's tying 3, and again on a the banked 3 to
start OT. Bueckers had four assists.
“For us to do what we did today without Paige having the type of
game that she always has offensively for us, to come out with a win
is huge,” Wings coach Jose Fernandez said. “We had other people step
up.”
[to top of second column] |
Dallas Wings' Arike Ogunbowale (24) shoots in the second half of a
WNBA basketball first-round playoff game against the Golden State
Valkyries Wednesday Sept. 30, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP
Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Ogunbowale's shot for a 93-93 tie with 4.1 seconds
left in regulation of Game 2 was followed by Gabby Williams getting
called for an offensive foul on the inbound play after a Golden
State timeout.
That call was reversed on replay, so instead of Aziaha James having
a chance to give Dallas the lead at the free-throw line, there was a
jump ball at center court with 3.0 seconds to go. After a scramble
for the loose ball, Golden State's desperation shot was way off
target, and after the buzzer.
Williams scored a career-high 36 points, regular season or playoffs,
but missed all six of her shots in the final 1:31 of overtime to
finish 12 of 23 from the field.
“We got one at home, and we got to bring our best,” Valkyries coach
Natalie Nakase said. “That was not our best. Tomorrow’s got to be
clear minds, clear focus, clear game plan, and then be ready to go
for the game at home.”
Ogunbowale scored 22 points in the fourth quarter and overtime — 11
in each period. She passed her previous overall career high of 41
points with the 3 that put Dallas up for good.
Dallas' Alysha Clark tied her playoff career high with 21 points,
and Aziaha James added 13.
Kaila Charles scored 14 points for the Valkyries, and Kayla Thornton
had 13.
With the scored tied at 98 in the extra period, Ogunbowale and
Tiffany Hayes had to be separated after making contact. Both were
called for flagrant fouls, and each made a pair of free throws with
2:26 remaining.
The Valkyries didn't score again, shooting 2 of 12 in overtime.
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