HISTORIC HOOPS: Former Notre Dame Star Shatters WNBA Record in Unforgettable performance that left the basketball world stunned, electrified, and scrambling to rewrite the record books. Arike Ogunbowale, the former Notre Dame legend known for her clutch shooting and game-winning heroics in college, delivered what many are now calling the most spectacular individual performance in WNBA history. It wasn’t just a night of hot shooting—it was a transcendent moment that redefined what was thought possible in a professional women’s basketball game.
Ogunbowale, who had already built a reputation for being fearless under pressure, dropped an astounding 57 points in a single game, breaking the previous WNBA record for most points scored in regulation by a single player. And she did it with flair, precision, and a type of swagger that reminded fans why she was once the queen of March Madness. Her Dallas Wings teammates fed off her energy from the moment the ball tipped off. She hit her first three shots, and from that point on, it was clear this wasn’t going to be an ordinary night. What made the performance so unforgettable wasn’t just the numbers—it was how she did it.
She knocked down contested threes off the dribble. She split double-teams with ease and pulled up in transition like she was in a gym shooting alone. She scored from the midrange, got to the free-throw line at will, and finished through contact at the rim. The defense tried everything—face-guarding, traps, switches, and even a box-and-one—but nothing worked. Ogunbowale was in a zone that few athletes ever reach in their careers. Her 57 points came on an efficient 22-for-31 shooting night, including 9 three-pointers. She added 6 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals, doing it all in just under 38 minutes of play.
The previous WNBA single-game scoring record had stood since 2018, when Liz Cambage put up 53 points. That night was special, but this performance felt seismic. Social media exploded. Former and current players reacted in real time, with the likes of Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, and Candace Parker all taking to Twitter to salute the magnitude of Ogunbowale’s night. Even NBA stars chimed in, including Damian Lillard and Kyrie Irving, praising her shot-making and composure under pressure.
For Arike, this night was the culmination of years of grinding, of carrying teams on her back since her Notre Dame days. Everyone remembers her back-to-back buzzer beaters in the 2018 NCAA Tournament that gave the Irish the national title. That moment etched her name in the sport’s history, but this new performance has taken her to another tier entirely. This wasn’t college. This was the pros. And on this night, she didn’t just dominate—she rewrote history.
In the postgame press conference, Ogunbowale was uncharacteristically emotional. Known for her stone-cold demeanor on the court, she took a moment to reflect. “I just felt good,” she said. “Every shot felt like it was going in. I wasn’t thinking about breaking records or anything like that. I was just playing basketball.” But as she spoke, the gravity of the night settled in. Her voice cracked slightly when she mentioned the young girls watching at home. “If you’re watching this thinking you can’t do it—yes, you can,” she said. “I used to be that girl too.”
For the Dallas Wings, this game might become a turning point. The team has been hovering around playoff contention for the past couple of seasons, and Ogunbowale’s scoring has always been their anchor. But this explosion sends a message to the rest of the league: the Wings are not to be overlooked. They may not have the depth of a team like the Las Vegas Aces or the experience of the New York Liberty, but with Ogunbowale, they have a player who can swing any game, any series, any season.
The historic performance also prompted a broader conversation around the WNBA’s growth and visibility. In recent years, the league has taken major strides in marketing its stars and expanding its reach. Yet moments like these feel like accelerants—propelling the league forward in ways that strategic planning never could. When a player does something this remarkable, people pay attention. Media outlets that typically ignore the WNBA suddenly ran headline stories. Highlight reels flooded YouTube and Instagram. ESPN interrupted its programming to broadcast the final minutes of the game live.
Former Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw, who was watching the game from home, spoke to a local radio station afterward and could barely contain her excitement. “That’s Arike,” she said. “She lives for the big moment. I’ve never coached anyone who embraced the pressure the way she does. And tonight, she didn’t just embrace it—she made it her playground.”
What made it even more iconic was the fact that the performance came against the Los Angeles Sparks, a storied franchise with multiple championships and a tough defensive core. They threw everything at Ogunbowale, from veterans like Lexie Brown to younger, quicker defenders. None of it mattered. She torched them all, and did so with an unrelenting pace that left spectators speechless. Midway through the fourth quarter, the crowd began chanting her name. Even Sparks fans at Crypto.com Arena were on their feet, acknowledging that they were witnessing something special.
It’s also worth noting the historical context. The WNBA has had no shortage of legends—Lisa Leslie, Tamika Catchings, Sheryl Swoopes, and more recently, players like Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson. Many have had dominant games. But few have managed to pair volume scoring with this level of efficiency, flair, and grace. Ogunbowale’s performance will go down in the annals not just for the point total, but for the aesthetic beauty of it. The footwork. The balance. The audacity. It was basketball poetry.
In the days following the game, Ogunbowale’s jersey sold out online within hours. The WNBA announced it would be re-airing the game in full on multiple platforms, and debate shows were devoting entire segments to the question: “Is Arike Ogunbowale now the best scorer in the WNBA?” For her part, she remained humble. “There are so many great players in this league,” she said. “I just had a good night.”
But it was more than that. It was a declaration. A flag planted in the ground that said: “Don’t forget about me.” In a league that has increasingly focused on bigger-market teams and stars with broader commercial appeal, Ogunbowale reminded everyone that greatness can’t be manufactured. It happens in real time, often unexpectedly, and when it does, it’s unforgettable.
Her Wings teammates showered her with water and hugs after the final buzzer. The locker room was electric. Coach Latricia Trammell couldn’t stop smiling. “She earned every bit of that,” Trammell said. “She’s the hardest worker I’ve ever coached. And she’s just getting started.”
The fans certainly hope so. Because what they witnessed wasn’t just a great individual performance—it was a moment that will be replayed and remembered for decades to come. It was a reminder of the power of sport to inspire, to unite, and to elevate. On one unforgettable night, a former Notre Dame star didn’t just play basketball—she authored a masterpiece.
And in doing so, she didn’t just shatter a WNBA record. She built a legacy.
