Ogunbowale Led Wings Past Valkyries in Overtime

The Dallas Wings tied the playoff series at 1-1 after a 108-100 victory over the Golden State Valkyries.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Basketball

Ogunbowale Led Wings Past Valkyries in Overtime

Live Poll

Does a standout individual performance significantly improve your local team's chances of winning a playoff series?

Arike Ogunbowale set a new WNBA playoff record by scoring 45 points to lead the Dallas Wings to a 108-100 overtime win against the Golden State Valkyries. The victory at College Park Center in Arlington forced a decisive Game 3 in the first-round series.

Why it matters

The Wings faced an elimination scenario and needed this victory to remain in the WNBA playoffs. By winning, they successfully extended the series and maintained their push to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2023.

Arike Ogunbowale recorded 45 points, including 22 in the fourth quarter and overtime combined, to set a single-game WNBA playoff scoring record. Gabby Williams contributed 36 points on 12-for-23 shooting in the 108-100 win.

The players

Arike Ogunbowale

She is a star guard for the Dallas Wings who set a new league record for points in a single playoff game.

Gabby Williams

She is a key forward for the Dallas Wings who scored 36 points in the game.

Dallas Wings

This is a professional WNBA basketball team based in Arlington that is competing in the league playoffs.

Golden State Valkyries

This is a WNBA team that is currently competing in its first-ever playoff series.

The details

Arike Ogunbowale hit a crucial three-pointer with roughly seven seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game and force overtime. The Wings subsequently outscored the Valkyries in the overtime period to secure the win and even the series.

Timeline

  1. September 30, 2026: The Dallas Wings defeated the Golden State Valkyries at College Park Center.

  2. October 2, 2026: The Wings and Valkyries meet for an elimination Game 3.

The Big Picture

This result reshapes the current WNBA playoff bracket by forcing a winner-take-all scenario in the next round. The outcome directly affects the competitive balance of the postseason as both teams fight for a place in the semifinals.

The 108-100 victory forces a decisive Game 3, meaning the winner of that contest will advance to the semifinals while the loser is eliminated. The high-scoring performance from Ogunbowale and Williams also alters the statistical baseline for the remainder of this series.

The takeaway

Arike Ogunbowale's historic performance highlights the importance of individual scoring efficiency during high-pressure elimination games. Fans should watch for how both teams adjust their defensive rotations for the upcoming Game 3 to contain explosive offensive threats.

What happens next

The Dallas Wings and Golden State Valkyries will face off in an elimination Game 3 on October 2, 2026.

Further reading

For more information on the current postseason, visit the Basketball section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated.

Live Poll

Does a standout individual performance significantly improve your local team's chances of winning a playoff series?