Wings star Arike Ogunbowale makes franchise history in loss to Valkyries

Arike Ogunbowale, the star of the Golden State Wings, achieved a historic milestone as she became the first player in franchise history to have multiple 30-point playoff games. Ogunbowale delivered an outstanding performance in Game 3 of the first playoff series win in Valkyries history, putting up 30 points, five rebounds, and contributing to a 77-73 victory over the Dallas Wings.

Earlier, she scored 45 points in an overtime win that forced a deciding game. However, her teammates struggled to match her output, with Jessica Shepard contributing 12 points and 12 rebounds, Paige Bueckers scoring 17 points and six assists, and Veronica Burton posting 16 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. Despite the loss, Golden State advanced to the semifinals, where Dallas will face the second-seeded Valkyries.

The Dallas team finished the regular season with a 27-17 record, marking their largest single-season turnaround in WNBA history, improving from 34 losses the previous year. Coach Jose Fernandez earned significant praise for the team's turnaround, and Ogunbowale recognized his efforts, calling him a winner who deserves credit. The core of the team, including Paige Bueckers, who was named to the WNBA All-Star team for the second consecutive year, and rookie Azzi Fudd, who will return after recovering from knee surgery, will be back for the upcoming season.