With Dallas Wings facing the end of their season, Nigeria-born basketball star Arike Ogunbowale produced one of the biggest performances of her career to keep them alive in the WNBA playoffs.
Ogunbowale scored 38 points as Dallas defeated Golden State Valkyries 108-100 in overtime, levelling their first-round playoff series at one game each.
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The performance also earned the 29 year old a place in WNBA history.
Her 38 points set a new record for the most points scored in a postseason game by a Dallas Wings player.
But beyond the individual record, the timing of the performance made it even more important.
Dallas entered Game 2 knowing another defeat would end their playoff campaign.
Instead, Ogunbowale stepped up with the Wings under pressure and helped force the series into overtime before Dallas completed the victory.
The result means both teams will now meet in a deciding Game 3, with a place in the next round at stake.
For Ogunbowale, the performance adds another major moment to a career already known for high pressure scoring.
Born in Milwaukee to Nigerian parents, the guard has developed into one of the WNBA’s leading scorers since joining Dallas as the fifth overall pick in the 2019 draft.
She has also built a reputation for producing important performances when the stakes are high.
That reputation was again on display against Golden State.
Playoff basketball often leaves little room for recovery. One poor night can bring an entire season to an end.
Dallas needed its biggest players to respond, and Ogunbowale delivered her highest scoring postseason performance when her team needed it most.
The record will now sit beside her name, but the job is not finished.
Dallas still need another victory to continue their playoff run.
After scoring 38 points to save their season, Ogunbowale and the Wings now face one more game to keep it going.
