Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty faced a controversial finish in Game 2 of their semifinal series after the Atlanta Dream secured a 101-98 overtime victory. Stewart claimed officials incorrectly told the Liberty they had no timeouts remaining on the final play, a statement crew chief Fatou Cissoko-Stephens firmly denied in the postgame pool report.
The Disputed Final Possession in Overtime
With 4.3 seconds remaining in the extra frame and the Liberty trailing by three points following two clutch free throws from Angel Reese, New York had possession and a reset timeout available. Instead of calling it to advance the ball and draw up a designed play, the Liberty opted to push a long pass toward Marine Johannès near midcourt. The ball was tipped, and Stewart’s desperation heave at the buzzer missed the mark entirely, sealing a 101-98 win for Atlanta.
In the immediate aftermath, questions swirled around the decision-making of first-year head coach Chris DeMarco. But during the postgame press conference, Stewart clarified that confusion on the floor dictated their options. Stewart stated that when she asked both referees if they had a reset timeout, they told the team no, leaving the squad frustrated with the lack of clarity.
Stewart detailed a direct exchange with official Kevin Fahy on the floor. She stated that she asked Fahy if they possessed a reset timeout, to which he replied that he would check with the table. According to Stewart, Fahy looked to Fatou Cissoko-Stephens, who said no, resulting in Fahy relaying the same negative answer back to the players.
Coach DeMarco backed his star player’s account during media availability, confirming that multiple staff members were told the team did not have the timeout remaining. The WNBA rulebook clearly states that teams are entitled to one reset timeout in the final two minutes of any overtime period. The Liberty had used their first overtime timeout at the 4:05 mark to challenge a foul called on Marine Fauthoux and their second with 21 seconds left for an unsuccessful possession, leaving their reset timeout intact for the final sequence.
Pool Report Confirms Liberty Had Reset Timeout
Over an hour after the final buzzer, Cissoko-Stephens issued a pool report that directly contradicted the versions provided by Stewart and DeMarco. Cissoko-Stephens confirmed that the Liberty did indeed have a reset timeout available. The crew chief stated that Stewart was standing behind referee Fahy when he confirmed with his partner between Reese’s penalty free throws that New York retained the timeout.
| Game Situation | New York Liberty Status | Atlanta Dream Status |
|---|---|---|
| Series Record | Down 0-2 | Leading 2-0 |
| Overtime Timeouts Used | 2 (Challenge & 21s mark) | Not specified in pool report |
| Reset Timeout Status | Available, but unused | Not applicable |
| Game 2 Final Score | 98 points | 101 points (OT) |
Despite the officiating controversy, the loss cannot be pinned entirely on the final missed communication. The Dream played without Allisha Gray due to a hand injury, and Rhyne Howard shot just 5 of 20 from the field. The Liberty held a three-point lead with under two minutes remaining in overtime, and Sabrina Ionescu committed a turnover by throwing a pass into the fifth row on their second-to-last possession.
Looking Ahead to Game 3
History dictates an uphill battle for New York, as no team in WNBA history has ever successfully rebounded from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five postseason series. The Liberty return home to host Game 3 on Friday, needing both an offensive resurgence and sharp tactical execution to keep their championship aspirations alive.
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