When the Dallas Wings faced off against the New York Liberty, it was a crucial game for the team’s pride after already being eliminated from the play-off race. But for Arike Ogunbowale, the night was also about a personal milestone. Just 10 points shy of becoming the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, Ogunbowale was laser-focused on breaking the record. While she did achieve that historic feat, her joy would have been even sweeter if the Wings had secured a win against the top-seeded Liberty.

Arike Ogunbowale put up a team-high 11-point performance against the no.1 seeded team tonight. That would be enough to surpass the 3,971 franchise record set by Deanna Nolan during her run from 2001-09. But thanks to Sabrina Ionescu’s game-leading 20 points from 8-for-18 field goals, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists, the Liberty once again snatched the win 67-99.

For the second time in just three days, the New York Liberty bested the Dallas Wings, completing a quick double over the Texas-based team. Even in their previous matchup, the Wings suffered defeat in front of their home fans at College Park center. Well, Ogunbowale was again the standout performer for the Wings as she notched impressive 23 points. She has been averaging 22.6 points per game along with 5.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds.

With the tonight’s game, the Dallas Wings remain at the eleventh spot in the standings with a 9-28 record, while the New York Liberty solidify their top-seed status, proudly holding a 31-6. Despite the tough loss, Arike Ogunbowale has something to celebrate, becoming the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.

Arike Ogunbowale breaks franchise record and continues to shine

In the fourth quarter, a shooting foul by Leonie Fiebich set the stage for a milestone moment for the Wings. Arike Ogunbowale, just two points shy of surpassing Deanna Nolan’s franchise scoring record, stepped up to the free-throw line. The Notre Dame alum, with all the composure, sank both shots, bringing her career total with the Wings to 3,972 points and cementing her place in team history.

The now 27-year-old guard joined the Dallas Wings as the fifth overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft. Fresh off her stellar performance at Notre Dame, where she earned Most Outstanding Player honors during their 2018 national championship run, Ogunbowale made an immediate impact in the league. In her debut season, she averaged an impressive 19.1 points per game, earning her a spot in the Rookie of the Year conversation, though she ultimately didn’t take home the award.

She recently added another accolade to her growing list of achievements, claiming her second WNBA All-Star MVP award, having first won it in 2021. Her stellar All-Star performance even

caught the attention of WNBA legend Cynthia Cooper, who was quick to sing her praises. “Arike playing against USA basketball and how she put on a show. That’s who the WNBA is, those are the players and the teams we should rally around and continue to pump them up and promote them,” stated Cooper. Despite the team’s struggles this season, her record-breaking achievements and leadership continue to shine, solidifying her legacy.