Arike Ogunbowale just dropped an absolutely insane 45 points in the playoffs, setting a new record for scoring! This historic performance came in Game 2 of the first-round series against the Golden State Valkyries, a win that forced a Game 3 and reminded everyone in the WNBA exactly what she can do on the court.
From Two Points to Forty-Five: What A Comeback
Man, you gotta remember where Arike was. Back in the 22nd game of the 2025 season, the exact halfway point, she had a brutal night: just two points on 0-for-10 shooting. The Dallas Wings got hammered by the Indiana Fever, 102-83, and slumped to a 6-16 record. She was putting up solid numbers, over 15 points per game in those last two seasons, but it wasn’t the 20 points per game we used to see from her. It got even wilder: she missed the All-Star Game in both 2025 and 2026, and for the first time in her eight-year career, she didn’t snag any MVP voting points. Ouch.
But even through that slump, rookie Paige Bueckers was her biggest fan. After that miserable two-point outing in 2025, Bueckers publicly applauded Arike for how she “continued to stay in the game” and didn’t let bad shooting “affect her effort on both ends of the floor.” Bueckers even talked about how big it was for her to see a leader like Arike stay unaffected by the refs, missed calls, or bad defensive possessions. She gave Arike a shout-out because, even if the shot wasn’t falling, “the way she stayed within the game,that’s a win in itself.” And now? Arike went out and proved Paige’s belief was 100% justified.
The Arike and Paige Show Is Just Getting Started
Yeah, we know Paige Bueckers is the number one scoring option now. Arike even sacrificed her own scoring in 2025 to let Paige take that spot. But after a 2025 season where the Wings finished a tough 10-34, a lot of folks were questioning if Arike and Paige even fit together, and if bringing Arike back for 2026 was smart. Well, guess what? Arike signed a two-year max deal, and the Wings improved by a massive 17 games in 2026! That’s what you call shutting down the doubters.
After her record-breaking 45-point explosion in Game 2 against the Valkyries, Arike wasn’t done. She came back and dropped another 30 points in Game 3, nearly powering Dallas all the way to the semifinals! Even though they fell short, you saw the true leadership. After the loss, when Paige Bueckers was emotional at the postgame press conference, it was Arike’s turn to cheer her teammate up. This isn’t just about one player; it’s about two superstars, happy to share the spotlight, making each other better. Get ready, WNBA, this tandem is only scratching the surface.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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