Arike Ogunbowale straight up went OFF for 45 points in Game 2, dragging the Dallas Wings to an insane overtime comeback win against the Golden State Valkyries and evening up this wild first-round playoff series. That performance wasn’t just a monster night, it pushed the game into the history books as the highest-scoring playoff game ever. Now, everything rides on Friday’s winner-take-all Game 3, with a spot in the semifinals against the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces on the line.
Wings Stun Golden State After Game 1 Blowout
Talk about a gut punch for the Valkyries, right? Game 1 was all Golden State, a total domination at home where they led by as many as 36 points and cruised to a 24-point win. Everyone probably thought Game 2 would be more of the same, especially when the Valkyries jumped out to an early eight-point lead. But Arike Ogunbowale had other plans. She just kept pouring it in, single-handedly turning the tide and forcing overtime. The Wings eventually clawed out a 108-100 victory, proving that in the playoffs, you can never count anyone out. For the Valkyries, they’re now fighting to win their first-ever playoff series, while Dallas is trying to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2023.
Coach Nakase Fires Up Golden State After “Uncalled For” Performance
What happened to the Valkyries’ defense in Game 2? That’s the question everyone’s asking. All season, Golden State built their success on stifling opponents, averaging a league second-lowest 75.1 points allowed per game. Their offense only put up 82.2 points per game, also second-lowest in the league, but their defense usually made up for it, earning them the second-best regular season record. Game 2 was a complete flip, and Valkyries star Gabby Williams, who finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and scored a career-high 36 points herself in that shootout, admitted she didn’t even recognize her team out in Dallas. Coach Natalie Nakase didn’t mince words either. “Giving up 108, that’s uncalled for,” Nakase said. “We got to keep them off the free-throw line. They had 37 free throws. That might be a record for us. So we have to be smarter. We’ve got to be there earlier and we’ve got to continue to fight together.” That’s a direct message to her squad.
Now the series shifts back to the Bay Area for Game 3, and the experts are expecting a different Valkyries team. One expert, Lindsay Gibbs, predicts Golden State gets back to form offensively and defensively, calling for an 84-70 Valkyries win. You just know the Valkyries are going to be fired up after that Game 2 collapse and Coach Nakase’s challenge.
This winner-take-all Game 3 is set for Friday, Oct. 2, tipping off at 9:00 p.m. ET from Chase Center in San Francisco. You can catch all the action on ESPN2 or fubo. The stakes couldn’t be higher, with a trip to the semifinals against the reigning champs on the line. It’s going to be wild.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply