Liberty make official inquiry into reset timeout dispute after overtime loss to Dream in WNBA semifinals
The Atlanta Dream moved within one victory of a WNBA Finals berth after outlasting the New York Liberty 101-98 in overtime Wednesday night to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the semifinal series.
However, Game 2’s dramatic finish was overshadowed by controversy after New York star Breanna Stewart said officials incorrectly told the Liberty they did not have a reset timeout available in the closing seconds, even though the team still had one remaining.
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“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 told reporters after the game.
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Breanna Stewart (30) of the New York Liberty looks on against the Atlanta Dream during the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals at State Farm Arena on Oct. 7, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Getty Images)
Under league rules, each team is given two team timeouts and one reset timeout during overtime, allowing it to advance the ball without huddling on the sideline.
Stewart continued later: “I asked Kevin [Fahy]. I said, ‘Do we have a reset timeout?’ And he said, ‘I’m going to check at the table.’ So then he looked to [crew chief] Fatou [Cissoko-Stephens], and she said, ‘No.’ So then he told me, ‘No.'”
A late New York turnover gave Atlanta an opportunity to put the game away. Angel Reese, the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, went to the foul line and sank both free throws to extend the Dream’s lead to three points. The Liberty inbounded from under their own basket and got the ball to Stewart, but her desperation shot was no good as the clock ticked to triple zeros.
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“Of course, who knows what happened to end the game,” Stewart said. “But we would have had hopefully a better shot on our goal.”
Officials were not made available to members of the media until roughly two hours after the game. ESPN asked crew chief Fatou Cissoko-Stephens in the pool report why Stewart said she had been told the Liberty’s reset timeout wasn’t available.
Breanna Stewart No. 30 of the New York Liberty looks to pass during Game 2 of the 2026 WNBA semifinals against the Atlanta Dream on Oct. 7, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. (NBAE via Getty Images)
“Stewart was standing behind referee Fahy when he confirmed with his partner between Reese’s penalty free throws that New York did indeed have a reset timeout remaining,” she said.
The controversy has prompted the Liberty to formally inquire with the league about the situation, ESPN reported, citing sources.
Asked whether he was unaware that the team had a reset timeout at their disposal, Liberty coach Chris DeMarco responded, “Yeah, same thing. They just said we didn’t have it. 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 was also asked about the number of Liberty timeouts remaining.
“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 added that the scorer’s table and stats staff keep up with the number of available timeouts, but emphasized that “teams are responsible for managing and tracking their timeout usage throughout the game.”
Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty drives against Rhyne Howard of the Atlanta Dream during the first half of Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on Oct. 7, 2026. (Getty Images)
When the Liberty had possession in critical moments, they failed to capitalize on their opportunities. With less than 10 seconds remaining in overtime, Ionescu lost control of the ball while driving, sending it out of bounds. Ionescu took responsibility for the costly mistake.
“I told them it was my fault,” she 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.”
Atlanta’s depth was on full display as six players scored in double figures, led by Reese and Jordin Canada with 23 points apiece. The Dream’s leading scorer Allisha Gray sat out of the game due to a finger injury.
The Liberty would have to overcome unprecedented odds to become the first team in WNBA history to erase a 2-0 deficit and win a best-of-five playoff series. Game 3 is scheduled for Friday night as the series shifts to Brooklyn, New York.
