Next-level competitors lay it all out on the line. Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale pushes the pace hard in transition, clears space between herself and her check with a step-back, then buries one of the five triples she connected on in a September 23, 2021 first-round matchup against the Chicago Sky.

Arike Ogunbowale

Arike Ogunbowale plants on a dime, buries pull-up in 2021 Playoffs

What better time to pull out all the stops than in the postseason? After catching the ball in transition, Chicago Sky guard Allie Quigley draws one defender out of position with a pump fake, neutralizes a second with a dramatic Euro step, then caps off the attack with an uncontested floater against the Dallas Wings on September 23, 2021. Quigley finished with 15 points in the first-round victory.

Allie Quigley

Allie Quigley slices through defense with eurostep in 2021 Playoffs

Kelsey Plum is doing everything imaginable in her team’s quest to become the first back-to-back WNBA champion in two decades. In the backcourt of one of the highest-scoring teams in league history, the two-time Las Vegas Aces All-Star did it all against the Minnesota Lynx. Thanks to some great passing from her teammates, Plum was an efficient scoring machine all game long, whether it was from underneath the basket, behind the 3-point arc or anywhere in between. Plum was in complete control, shooting a sizzling 14 for 18 from the field and 6 of 9 from downtown as she racked up 40 points and four assists in a runaway 113-89 win on July 9, 2023.

Kelsey Plum

Kelsey Plum pours in career-high 40 points on efficient night

When you’re in the zone from long range, it doesn’t matter who stands in your way. Rhyne Howard takes on all challengers, including Phoenix Mercury star Skylar Diggins-Smith, calmly and effortlessly sending her defender toppling to the hardwood with one flick of the arm before finishing with style on a wide-open three-pointer. It was one of six triples for Howard, who compiled a game-high 25 points with three rebounds, five assists and a block for the Atlanta Dream on June 10, 2022.

Rhyne Howard

Rhyne Howard clears space with handle, steps back for cold-blooded three

Jewell Loyd activated her magic touch against the Dallas Wings. Now in her ninth season with the Seattle Storm, the five-time All-Star was still operating at the top of her game in the high-scoring thriller as she embraced an isolation matchup with an overmatched defender. Loyd unleashed an elusive crossover dribble to create the necessary space to shake her defensive challenger before confidently stepping into a 3-pointer. Loyd scored 25 of her career-best 39 points in the first half and shot 12 of 22 for the game — 7 of 13 from downtown — to pair with five rebounds and five assists in Seattle’s 109-103 victory on June 17, 2023. 

Jewell Loyd

Jewell Loyd nets career-high 39, claims W in scoring duel vs. Wings

Rhyne Howard and the Atlanta Dream had never experienced an explosion of points quite like this. An All-Star in each of her two WNBA seasons, the offensively-gifted Howard unleashed a deluge on the Los Angeles Sparks from all over the court. She finished off alley-oops in the post, knocked defenders off their feet with crafty moves in the midrange, knocked down six 3-pointers in 12 tries and turned steals into fastbreak layups. Howard shot 14 of 20 for the game for a career-high 43 points, one shy of the franchise record for a single game, although the Dream did set a record with 112 points. The 2022 Rookie of the Year also mixed in two rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks in the 112-84 win on July 2, 2023. 

Rhyne Howard racks up 43 points in career-high scoring spree

Even when she won the WNBA scoring title in 2020, Arike Ogunbowale did not have a game quite this explosive. The offensively-gifted Dallas Wings guard unleashed a career-best performance against the Seattle Storm as she broke down Jewell Loyd off the dribble, going between the legs multiple times before pulling up for and draining a deep step-back 3-pointer. Ogunbowale — who even bested Loyd’s 39 points — shot 13 of 24 from the field and 7 of 14 from downtown on the way to a career-high 41 points to go with three rebounds, three assists and two steals on June 17, 2023. 

Arike Ogunbowale scores career-high 41 in scoring duel vs. Storm

If having a relentless motor and a versatile skill set on both ends of the floor is the key to a lengthy career, then Rhyne Howard is here for the long haul. Proving to be double trouble in a matter of seconds, the Atlanta Dream guard showcases her basketball intelligence with an opportune cut into the lane, snaring a dish from a teammate in the post and earning an easy deuce off the glass. Then, instead of rushing back on defense, Howard’s awareness takes center stage, lingering just long enough to pick off a lazy Chicago Sky inbound pass and rise up to bury a baseline jumper. Howard’s willingness to do it all for her squad earned her 16 points, four rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and her highlight-reel steal on June 17, 2022.

Rhyne Howard cuts to the hoop for bucket, picks off inbound and score again

Having star power on a roster is one thing; having synergy with great players all working together is next level. The Las Vegas Aces showcase their chemistry and teamwork, with Kelsey Plum right in the middle of the action — following a teammate’s steal on the defensive end, Plum quickly collects the ball and initiates the downhill attack. Plum threads the needle with a highlight-reel bounce pass through a wall of three Connecticut Sun defenders to hit a streaking teammate in stride for an easy two. Plum’s 18 points, four rebounds, seven assists and trio of three-pointers on May 31, 2022 propelled the Aces to their seventh straight victory — and best 10-game start in franchise history.

Kelsey Plum laces fullcourt bounce pass up floor for hoop

Following in your leader’s footsteps is never a bad plan, especially when that leader’s name is Sue Bird. Having made more than 1,000 three-pointers at a success rate over 39 percent, Bird never met a shot she didn’t think she could make; now, it’s clear that this quality has rubbed off on Jewell Loyd, Bird’s backcourt mate with the Seattle Storm for the last eight seasons. With the first-quarter clock rapidly diminishing, Loyd receives an urgent pass behind the arc and, despite having her back turned when she catches the rock, still manages to nail a turnaround triple at the buzzer. Loyd tallied a game-high 26 points against the Phoenix Mercury on May 11, 2022.

Jewell Loyd beats buzzer with perfectly timed turnaround triple

When you know how to create for yourself, you know how to create for others. Arike Ogunbowale is a master of her craft. Hungry to put points on the board, the Dallas Wings guard showcases her slick handle, crossing over a helpless defender as she motors toward the lane while setting up the halfcourt offense. As the New York Liberty defense collapses inward, Ogunbowale absorbs contact from multiple defenders and somehow flicks a no-look pass over her shoulder to a wide-open teammate in the corner, who finishes by burying the trey. Ogunbowale wowed all game long in her team’s 81-71 victory on May 15, 2022, scoring a game-high 21 points, to go along with four assists, a rebound and a steal.

Arike Ogunbowale beats defender with crossover, tosses dime over head for three

The mark of an elite ball handler is the ability to remain calm under pressure. Despite being face-guarded by an Atlanta Dream defender, Arike Ogunbowale displays her patented handle while dribbling through traffic. Fooling her defender with the help of a timely pick, the Dallas Wings guard then charts her path into the paint, beating two help defenders to her spot and connecting on a jumper from just inside the foul line. Named an All-Star for the second consecutive season, Ogunbowale left little doubt as to why by torching the Dream for 21 points, five rebounds, eight assists and five blocks in the 81-68 victory on July 30, 2022.

Arike Ogunbowale penetrates with precision before pulling up for fadeaway

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