Liberty File Inquiry Over Overtime Timeout Dispute in WNBA Semifinals Loss

The New York Liberty has initiated an official inquiry into a disputed timeout situation during their overtime loss to the Atlanta Dream in Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals. The Liberty fell to the Dream 101-98, putting them in a 2-0 series deficit.

Liberty star Breanna Stewart stated after the game that she inquired with officials about the availability of a reset timeout in the closing seconds of overtime but was told it was not available. According to Stewart, both referees indicated the team did not have the timeout remaining, despite the team still possessing one under league rules. Each team is allotted two team timeouts and one reset timeout during overtime, the latter of which allows for advancing the ball without huddling.

"This is not blaming the refs, but when I ask both refs if we have a reset timeout at the end, and they tell us no, and then we leave the game with the reset timeout, it's pretty frustrating," Stewart said.

She further explained that she asked referee Kevin Fahy, who then reportedly checked with crew chief Fatou Cissoko-Stephens, and both conveyed that the reset timeout was unavailable. "So then he told me, 'No,'" Stewart added.

A turnover by the Liberty in the final seconds gave the Dream an opportunity to secure the win. Angel Reese made two free throws to extend Atlanta's lead to three, and a subsequent desperation shot by Stewart at the buzzer was unsuccessful.

In a pool report following the game, Cissoko-Stephens addressed the controversy. She stated that Stewart was behind referee Fahy when he confirmed with his partner between Reese's free throws that New York did, in fact, have a reset timeout remaining.

Liberty coach Chris DeMarco echoed Stewart's account, confirming that multiple staff members were informed the timeout was not available. "They just said we didn't have it," DeMarco said. "Multiple staff members [were told]. It is what it is. We've got to demand more. But it is what it is."

Dream coach Karl Smesko acknowledged he believed the Liberty still had a timeout left but that they did not utilize it to advance the ball. "I was, I thought they had a timeout left," Smesko said. "But they played it out the way they did. So I was expecting it to be advanced, but it wasn't, so we had to play it, and fortunately we were able to get the stop."

Cissoko-Stephens also noted that while the scorer's table and stats staff track timeouts, "teams are responsible for managing and tracking their timeout usage throughout the game."

Despite the officiating dispute, the Liberty also faced missed opportunities on the court. Sabrina Ionescu lost control of the ball out of bounds in the closing seconds of overtime. "I told them it was my fault," Ionescu said. "I took ownership for that. This loss is on me. I've got to take it on the chin, and I've got to be better."

The Atlanta Dream's win was supported by a balanced offensive effort, with six players scoring in double figures. Reese and Jordin Canada led the team with 23 points each, despite leading scorer Allisha Gray being sidelined due to a finger injury.

The Liberty now face the challenge of overcoming an unprecedented 0-2 deficit in a best-of-five WNBA playoff series. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday in Brooklyn, New York.