10/01/26 01:27:00
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10/01 01:26 CDT Ogunbowale scores WNBA playoff-record 45 as Wings win in OT to
force deciding game with Valkyries
Ogunbowale scores WNBA playoff-record 45 as Wings win in OT to force deciding
game with Valkyries
By SCHUYLER DIXON
AP Sports Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) --- Arike Ogunbowale was standing near Paige Bueckers
waiting for the star guard to make a move on her dribble with the Dallas Wings
trailing by three as the final seconds of regulation --- and their season ---
ticked away.
Bueckers waved toward her backcourt mate, but she wasn't telling Ogunbowale to
get out of the way. She was telling her to get open.
After all, Bueckers knew who the hot hand was --- and it wasn't the 2025 No. 1
overall pick and Rookie of the Year who is in her first playoff series.
Ogunbowale took a pass from Bueckers on the left baseline, dribbled toward the
corner and hit an off-balance corner 3-pointer, sending the game to overtime
and her on the way to a WNBA playoff-record 45 points as the Wings won a
thriller 108-100 on Wednesday night, forcing a Game 3 in their first-round
series.
The deciding game will be Friday night in San Francisco, where the Valkyries
won the series opener by 24 points.
Golden State is trying to advance in the playoffs for the first time in the
franchise's second season. The Wings are trying to reach the semifinals for the
second time in six postseason appearances since moving to the Dallas area in
2016.
Ogunbowale opened the extra period of Game 2 by banking in a 3, then hit
another one to put Dallas ahead for good at 103-100 with 1:46 remaining. The
four-time All-Star easily topped her previous playoff best of 24 points after
scoring 10 points on just seven shots in the series opener.
"We felt like we got pushed around out there when we played in San Francisco
and especially me personally I don't feel like I was aggressive," said
Ogunbowale, who was 5 of 8 from beyond the arc, 12 of 23 overall and 16 of 18
on free throws. "I didn't know what I would score. I was going to shoot
regardless because I just feel like seven shots isn't enough to win playoffs
and I have to be aggressive whether it's going in or not."
Bueckers, who scored 10 points, was mired in a 3-for-13 shooting night that
included an air ball on a 3-pointer with the Wings trailing by three in the
final two minutes of regulation. But she assisted on Ogunbowale's tying 3, and
again on a the banked 3 to start OT. Bueckers had four assists.
"For us to do what we did today without Paige having the type of game that she
always has offensively for us, to come out with a win is huge," Wings coach
Jose Fernandez said. "We had other people step up."
Ogunbowale's shot for a 93-93 tie with 4.1 seconds left in regulation of Game 2
was followed by Gabby Williams getting called for an offensive foul on the
inbound play after a Golden State timeout.
That call was reversed on replay, so instead of Aziaha James having a chance to
give Dallas the lead at the free-throw line, there was a jump ball at center
court with 3.0 seconds to go. After a scramble for the loose ball, Golden
State's desperation shot was way off target, and after the buzzer.
Williams scored a career-high 36 points, regular season or playoffs, but missed
all six of her shots in the final 1:31 of overtime to finish 12 of 23 from the
field.
"We got one at home, and we got to bring our best," Valkyries coach Natalie
Nakase said. "That was not our best. Tomorrow's got to be clear minds, clear
focus, clear game plan, and then be ready to go for the game at home."
Ogunbowale scored 22 points in the fourth quarter and overtime --- 11 in each
period. She passed her previous overall career high of 41 points with the 3
that put Dallas up for good.
Dallas' Alysha Clark tied her playoff career high with 21 points, and Aziaha
James added 13.
Kaila Charles scored 14 points for the Valkyries, and Kayla Thornton had 13.
With the scored tied at 98 in the extra period, Ogunbowale and Tiffany Hayes
had to be separated after making contact. Both were called for flagrant fouls,
and each made a pair of free throws with 2:26 remaining.
The Valkyries didn't score again, shooting 2 of 12 in overtime.
___
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