Dallas Wings Triumph in Overtime Thriller Thanks to Ogunbowale’s Historic Performance

Arlington, Texas — Arike Ogunbowale delivered a historic performance to lead the Dallas Wings to a 108-100 victory over the Golden State Valkyries in overtime during the second game of the WNBA Playoffs’ first round. This win at College Park Center ensures a decisive Game 3 in the series.

Ogunbowale scored 45 points, setting a new WNBA playoff record. Her impactful play included a critical 3-pointer that tied the game at 93-93 as time wound down in regulation. She began the overtime by banking a 3-pointer and added another later, securing the lead for Dallas for good at 103-100 with just under two minutes remaining. This effort far surpassed her previous playoff high of 24 points.

In a dramatic finish to regulation, an off-balance corner 3 by Ogunbowale tied the score with 4.1 seconds left. Gabby Williams was then charged with an offensive foul on the inbound play after a Golden State timeout. The decision was overturned upon review, leading to a jump ball at center court with 3 seconds still on the clock. After a frantic play for possession, Golden State’s final shot missed the mark as the buzzer sounded.

The series will conclude with Game 3 on Friday night in San Francisco, where the Valkyries previously defeated Dallas by 24 points in Game 1. This game marks a significant opportunity for Golden State to make history by advancing in the playoffs during their second year as a franchise.

Despite the late-game excitement, the night was less stellar for Wings’ standout Paige Bueckers, who navigated her first postseason game, recording 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting. For the Valkyries, Williams set a new personal best by scoring 36 points but failed to convert on all six attempts in the last minute and a half of overtime, finishing with a 12 out of 23 shooting record.

Alysha Clark of Dallas matched her playoff career high with 21 points, contributing significantly to the Wings’ win.