Arike Ogunbowale’s 45-point record: the late shots that saved Dallas’ season

Arike Ogunbowale scored a WNBA single-game playoff record 45 points on September 30 in Arlington, Texas, lifting the Dallas Wings to a 108–100 overtime win over the Golden State Valkyries. Her late three-pointer prevented elimination and helped force a deciding Game 3 in San Francisco on Friday, October 2.

The shot tied the score with just 4.1 seconds left in regulation. Ogunbowale then scored 11 of Dallas’ 15 overtime points. Her explanation afterward, in a postgame clip carried by ClutchPoints, was brief: ‘I guess I like when the time is going down.’

How Ogunbowale forced overtime

Dallas needed more than one basket to escape. Golden State led 91–88 after Gabby Williams made two free throws with 1:02 remaining. Following an exchange of turnovers, Ogunbowale drove for a layup with 22.5 seconds left, cutting the Wings’ deficit to one.

Williams answered with another pair of free throws at 14.6 seconds, making it 93–90. Paige Bueckers then passed to Ogunbowale on the left baseline, according to Associated Press reporter Schuyler Dixon’s account hosted by StatMuse. Ogunbowale moved toward the corner and hit the off-balance three that kept Dallas alive.

The Valkyries’ official recap confirms the corner three came with 4.1 seconds remaining. It capped a regulation contest in which the lead repeatedly changed hands: Dallas led 50–45 at halftime, but Golden State entered the fourth quarter ahead 74–72.

The overtime shots that finished the job

Ogunbowale opened overtime with another three, this time banking it in. Bueckers assisted that basket too, AP reported. It was a separate shot from the regulation equalizer, and it began an extra period in which Ogunbowale supplied most of Dallas’ scoring.

With 1:46 left, she hit another three to put Dallas ahead 103–100. Alysha Clark followed with two free throws 18 seconds later, extending the advantage to five. Golden State went scoreless for the final 2:26 of overtime, according to Field Level Media.

Dallas won the extra period 15–7. Sportsnet’s October 1 highlight description focuses on Ogunbowale’s 11 overtime points, while the Standard counted 22 across the fourth quarter and overtime combined. The regulation shot gave Dallas another chance; her scoring continued through the finish.

What record did Ogunbowale break?

The 45 points set the WNBA’s single-game postseason scoring record, as identified by the Valkyries, AP and the Standard. Ogunbowale made 12 of 23 field-goal attempts, including five of eight three-pointers, and went 16 of 18 at the free-throw line.

Her previous personal playoff high was 24 points, AP reported. That is a comparison with her own postseason performances, rather than the previous league record. The record established in this game concerns playoff scoring.

The change from Game 1 was substantial. Ogunbowale had scored 10 points on seven shots in the opener. She told AP she believed her lack of aggression had contributed to Dallas being pushed around in San Francisco and intended to shoot more, regardless of whether her early attempts fell. ‘I didn’t know what I would score,’ she said.

What Williams and the Valkyries said

Williams scored a career-high 36 points for Golden State. The teams traded the lead 15 times, but her scoring could not secure the series. Afterward, she focused on the stops the Valkyries had failed to make.

‘We’re a defensive team. We need to get stops,’ Williams told the Standard. The outlet reported that Golden State had not previously conceded 100 points that season. Coach Natalie Nakase also called for smarter, more connected defense and stronger communication.

Dallas received 21 points from Clark off the bench and 13 from Aziaha James. Bueckers finished with 10 on three-of-13 shooting, but contributed four assists, including the passes for Ogunbowale’s tying three and opening overtime basket. ‘We had other people step up,’ Dallas coach Jose Fernandez said in AP’s report.

When Dallas and Golden State play Game 3

The series is tied 1–1 after Golden State won the opener 104–80. Game 3 is scheduled for October 2 at Chase Center in San Francisco. The winner advances to the semifinals; Dallas’ record-setting night secured that deciding opportunity.

AP reported that Golden State is seeking its first playoff-series advancement in its second season. Dallas is pursuing its second semifinal appearance across six postseason trips since relocating to the Dallas area in 2016.