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Arike Ogunbowale Sets New Playoff Scoring Record in Upset Win

October 1, 2026
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 30: Arike Ogunbowale #24 of the Dallas Wings celebrates in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Valkyries during game two of the first round of the WNBA Playoffs at College Park Center on September 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

The Dallas Wings guard’s 45 point performance sent the seventh seed team into a third game with the Valkyries.

If there’s one player who knows something about a clutch corner three in the final moments of a big game, it’s Arike Ogunbowale. The Dallas Wings guard hit the game-saving three and more in her record breaking 45 point playoff performance against the Valkyries on Wednesday night, becoming the all-time single-game playoff high scorer. In an upset win forcing a third game in the first round of the playoffs, the seventh seed Wings came together as a team to support an overly-guarded Paige Bueckers.

Eight years ago, Ogunbowale became a legend when she hit a corner three-pointer with 0.1 seconds on the clock to win the NCAA Championship for Notre Dame. Only two days before then, Ogunbowale hit a step-back jumper buzzer beater to defeat UConn and Gabby Williams (who she shot over on Wednesday night) and send Notre Dame to the championship game.

Wednesday’s final shot was no different. After a hard-fought game, Ogunbowale received the ball with seven seconds on the clock, tied at 90 with the playoffs on the line, and hit her signature clutch three to send the game into overtime.

Her 45 point performance set the single-game playoff scoring record beating out the three players, Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart and Angel McCoughtry, who had all scored 42 points in playoff games. Ogunbowale also became the oldest player in WNBA history to score 40 points in the playoffs at 29 years and 212 days old. While Ogunbowale had a rocky start to the season and an inconsistent last season with the Wings, over the past couple of games, she has reminded people why she was worth the $2.4 million contract. When Ogunbowale remembers who she is, the Wings are bound to soar (pun intended).

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