Nigeria-born basketball star, Arike Ogunbowale, delivered a record-breaking performance as the Dallas Wings defeated the Golden State Valkyries 108–100 in overtime to level their first-round WNBA playoff series at 1–1.
Facing elimination after losing Game 1, Ogunbowale scored a WNBA playoff-record 45 points to lead Dallas to victory.
The Wings guard also recorded seven rebounds, four assists and three steals, while making five three-pointers.
Ogunbowale came up clutch in regulation, hitting a three-pointer with 4.1 seconds remaining to tie the game at 93–93 and force overtime. She then scored 11 points in the extra period as Dallas pulled away for the eight-point victory.
Alysha Clark added 21 points for the Wings, while Golden State’s Gabby Williams scored a career-high 36 points in the defeat.
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The victory levelled the best-of-three series at 1–1, setting up a decisive Game 3 on Friday in San Francisco. The winner will advance to the WNBA semi-finals.
Ogunbowale’s 45 points comfortably surpassed her previous WNBA playoff career high of 24, while also breaking the previous playoff scoring record of 42 points.
