Arike Ogunbowale refused to let the season die. Facing elimination on Wednesday night, the Dallas guard poured in a WNBA playoff-record 45 points — 12-of-23 from the field, 5-of-8 from three, 16-of-18 from the line — to carry the seventh-seeded Wings past the second-seeded Golden State Valkyries 108-100 in overtime.
Her game-tying three with 14.6 seconds left forced the extra period; she scored 22 of her 45 in the fourth quarter and overtime combined. The old record of 42, shared by Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier and Angel McCoughtry, is history. Paige Bueckers added 10 in support.
Game 3 is Friday at Chase Center. Elsewhere, Atlanta swept Washington to reach the semifinals, the Liberty completed their sweep of top-seeded Minnesota, and the Fever and Aces play their decider tonight. But Wednesday belonged to one woman and 45 points of pure refusal.