Arike Ogunbowale's 45 Sets the WNBA Playoff Scoring Record
Those 45 points cleared the old mark of 42, shared by Napheesa Collier (2024), Breanna Stewart (2022), and Angel McCoughtry (2010). Ogunbowale went 12-of-23 from the field, 5-of-8 from three, and 16-of-18 at the line in 42 minutes, adding seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Photo: WNBA.com. Official Arike Ogunbowale headshot, Dallas Wings.
Arike Ogunbowale scored a WNBA playoff-record 45 points on Wednesday night as the No. 7 Dallas Wings beat the No. 2 Golden State Valkyries 108-100 in overtime at College Park Center, forcing a deciding Game 3 in their first-round series.
Those 45 points cleared the old mark of 42, shared by Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, and Angel McCoughtry. Ogunbowale went 12-of-23 from the field, 5-of-8 from three, and 16-of-18 at the line in 42 minutes, adding seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals. She scored 22 of the 45 in the fourth quarter and overtime, 11 in each period, and Dallas now flies to San Francisco for Friday night's Game 3 after dropping Game 1 by 24.
The sequence that put the record within reach started with the Wings down three late in regulation. Paige Bueckers, stuck in a 3-of-13 night in her first playoff series, found Ogunbowale in the corner. Ogunbowale took one dribble and hit an off-balance three with 4.1 seconds left to tie it at 93. "Let me get her the ball and get out the way," Bueckers said afterward, per USA TODAY. Golden State's inbound after the timeout produced an offensive foul on Gabby Williams that was reversed on replay, a jump ball at 3.0 seconds, and a desperation shot that came after the buzzer. Overtime belonged to the same guard: a banked three to open the period, then another three that made it 103-100 with 1:46 left.
The volume was the point. Game 1 in San Francisco had held Ogunbowale to 10 points, and she said as much afterward. "I felt like the first game I wasn't aggressive enough," she told reporters, per USA TODAY. "I was really passive." Wednesday she attacked from the start, and the result was the highest playoff total the league has ever recorded. Bueckers was the 2025 No. 1 pick and Rookie of the Year, and on a night her shot was gone, the tying pass was her biggest contribution.
Overtime also had a flashpoint. With the score tied at 98, Ogunbowale and Tiffany Hayes had to be separated after making contact. Both were assessed flagrant 1 fouls on review, and each made two free throws with 2:26 remaining. Ogunbowale's three at 1:46 then put Dallas ahead for good, and Golden State did not score again.
Dallas needed more than one scorer to survive a cold night from its young star. Alysha Clark tied her playoff career high with 21. Aziaha James added 13. Ogunbowale took 18 free throws, passed her previous playoff high of 24 midway through the fourth, and passed her overall career high of 41 on the three that put Dallas up for good. Williams answered with a career-high 36 on the other side, but Golden State went 2-of-12 in the extra period, and she missed all six of her shots in the final 1:31. A 36-point night from Williams was not enough once Dallas scored the last eight points of the game.
The series now goes back to the building where Golden State won by 24, and where the Valkyries are chasing their first playoff series win in franchise year two. The winner faces the winner of Thursday's Aces-Fever Game 3. For Dallas, the week already included Jessica Shepard taking the Kia Most Improved award before Wednesday's tip.
Game 3 is Friday night at Chase Center in San Francisco, with the Aces-Fever winner waiting.
Sources
- AP game recap on WNBA.com. Oct 1, 2026. "A WNBA playoff-record 45 points"; 108-100 OT; tying corner 3 at 93-93 with 4.1 seconds left; reversed foul and jump ball at 3.0; banked OT 3; 103-100 3 with 1:46 left; previous playoff best 24, career high 41; 22 points in the fourth and OT; Bueckers 10 on 3-of-13; Williams career-high 36, 0-for-6 in the final 1:31; Clark 21, James 13; flagrant fouls on Ogunbowale and Hayes at 98-98, free throws at 2:26; Golden State 2-of-12 in OT; Game 3 Friday in San Francisco.
- USA TODAY / Cydney Henderson. Oct 1, 2026. "Sets a WNBA record for the most points scored in a playoff game"; Bueckers and Ogunbowale quotes; 12-23 FG, 5-8 3PT, 16-18 FT, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals.
- Yahoo Sports / Ryan Young. Oct 1, 2026. Surpassed the three-way tie at 42 (Collier, Stewart, McCoughtry); tying pass from Bueckers in the corner; winner faces the winner of Thursday's Aces-Fever Game 3.
- ESPN / Associated Press. Oct 1, 2026.
- CBS Sports / AP. Oct 1, 2026.
- Mavs Moneyball. Oct 1, 2026.
- WNBA.com Arike Ogunbowale player page.
- Photo: WNBA.com. Official Arike Ogunbowale headshot, Dallas Wings.
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