WNBA Playoffs: Ogunbowale Erupts and the Dream Advance

Read Time:3 Minute, 18 Second

Wednesday night in the WNBA playoffs delivered everything a basketball fan could ask for: a historic, record-shattering individual performance to save a season, and a decisive closeout victory that sets up a highly anticipated semifinal clash.

Here is a detailed recap of the September 30 playoff action, as the Dallas Wings survived a thriller and the Atlanta Dream officially punched their ticket to the next round.

Year 30 is in full effect.

Survival Mode: Ogunbowale’s Historic 45 Points Save the Wings

With their season on the line, the Dallas Wings leaned on their superstar, and Arike Ogunbowale delivered a performance for the ages.

Facing elimination against the No. 2 seed Golden State Valkyries, Ogunbowale completely took over Game 2, setting a new WNBA playoff single-game scoring record with an astronomical 45 points. Her heroics fueled the Wings to a thrilling 108-100 overtime victory, tying the best-of-three series at 1-1 and forcing a decisive Game 3 on Friday.

The Valkyries appeared ready to pull away and complete the sweep late in the fourth quarter, but Dallas engineered a furious rally. Down the stretch, it was all Ogunbowale. The dynamic guard played 42 grueling minutes, shooting an efficient 12-of-23 from the floor and 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. She supplemented her scoring barrage by repeatedly attacking the paint, drawing contact, and sinking 16 of her 18 free-throw attempts.

The defining moment of the night came in the final seconds of regulation when Ogunbowale buried an incredible, contested 3-pointer to tie the game and force overtime. In the extra period, Dallas completely overpowered Golden State, riding the momentum of their home crowd at College Park Center to secure the win. Ogunbowale also stuffed the stat sheet with 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.

Ogunbowale sets a new WNBA playoff scoring record, AI generated

For the expansion Valkyries, the loss is a bitter pill to swallow after controlling much of the contest. They will now have to regroup quickly and figure out how to slow down Ogunbowale in a winner-take-all Game 3 on their home floor at Chase Center.

Sweep Complete: Dream Eliminate Mystics to Set Up Clash with Liberty

In Atlanta, the Dream took care of business, eliminating the Washington Mystics with a decisive 93-75 victory in Game 2 to complete the series sweep. With the win, Atlanta advances to the WNBA semifinals for the first time since 2018, where they will face the giant-slaying New York Liberty.

While Game 1 was a comfortable win for Atlanta, Washington refused to go quietly on Wednesday. The Mystics orchestrated a massive 14-2 run spanning the third and fourth quarters, cutting the Dream’s lead to just 65-62. Washington was led by a brilliant 25-point performance from Sonia Citron, who kept the Mystics’ offense afloat.

However, Atlanta’s response was swift and lethal. The Dream answered with a back-breaking 13-0 run of their own, capped by a clutch 3-pointer from point guard Jordin Canada to rebuild a double-digit advantage and put the game out of reach.

Atlanta advances to face New York in the semifinals, AI generated

Atlanta’s starting five was incredibly balanced, with all five starters reaching double figures. Veteran guard Allisha Gray led the charge with a highly efficient 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting. Jordin Canada played the role of floor general to perfection, posting a massive double-double with 19 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds while sinking four critical 3-pointers.

In the frontcourt, Angel Reese continued to be a force on the glass and at the foul line, finishing with 15 points and 7 rebounds, while Rhyne Howard added 15 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.

Looking Ahead:

The Dream now turn their attention to the New York Liberty, who just shocked the basketball world by sweeping the No. 1 overall seed Minnesota Lynx. The semifinal matchup promises to be a physical, high-octane series between two battle-tested rosters peaking at the perfect time.