Arike Ogunbowale gave the Wings everything she had across three games, and it ended one possession short. The four-time All-Star poured in 30 points on 11-of-21 shooting with five rebounds Friday night in San Francisco, but Golden State erased a 16-point deficit to take Game 3 by a 77-73 score and claim the first playoff series win in Valkyries history.
The performance made her the first player in franchise history with multiple 30-point playoff games. The other came two nights earlier, when Ogunbowale erupted for 45 points in an overtime win that forced the decider. That outing set a WNBA playoff record for points in a single game.
Her teammates could not match the output Friday. Jessica Shepard posted 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Paige Bueckers finished with 17 points, six assists, two steals and two blocks on 3-of-14 shooting, a continuation of the struggles that followed her 21-point, 9-of-10 opener in Game 1.
Golden State won with balance instead. Gabby Williams led the way with 19 points, Tiffany Hayes added 18, and Veronica Burton posted 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Kiah Stokes grabbed 13 boards as the second-seeded Valkyries advanced to the semifinals.
Article Continues BelowDallas had chances late. The Wings missed two opportunities to retake the lead in the closing stretch, with Bueckers misfiring on a jumper and Ogunbowale unable to convert a floater.
The ending obscures what the season represented. Dallas finished 27-17 after going 10-34 a year ago, a 17-win improvement that stands as the largest single-season turnaround in WNBA history. It was the franchise's first playoff appearance since 2023, achieved in Jose Fernandez's first year as head coach.
Ogunbowale made sure her coach received credit afterward, calling him a winner who deserves praise for what he built this season.
The pieces return largely intact. Bueckers is coming off a second consecutive All-Star selection, and rookie Azzi Fudd will be back next season after arthroscopic knee surgery in August cost her the playoffs.