The New York Liberty were 4.3 seconds away from potentially forcing a second overtime.
Instead, they left Atlanta with a devastating 101-98 overtime loss—and a controversy that could follow this semifinal series all the way back to Brooklyn.
After Angel Reese knocked down two free throws to put Atlanta ahead by three, New York appeared to have one final opportunity to advance the ball and create a much better look at a tying 3-pointer.
But the Liberty didn’t use their reset timeout.
Breanna Stewart says there was a reason.
She says the Liberty were told by the officials that they didn’t have one left.
“This is not blaming the refs…”
Stewart then explained that she personally asked referee Kevin Fahy whether New York still had a reset.
According to Stewart, Fahy said he would check with the scorer’s table before returning with the answer that they did not have one.
The problem?
The Liberty apparently did.
🚨 WHAT HAPPENED?
The situation
🏀 4.3 seconds remaining
📍 Atlanta leading 101-98
🏀 Angel Reese at the free-throw line
⏱️ Liberty need a 3-pointer to tie
📋 New York had a reset timeout available
❌ Liberty did not use it
🎯 Stewart ultimately attempted a 32-foot shot
WNBA rules provide each team with one reset timeout during the final two minutes of an overtime period.
A reset allows a team to advance the ball to halfcourt, potentially creating a significantly better opportunity for a final shot.
And according to the broadcast and the league’s subsequent explanation, New York still had that reset available.
STEWART’S SIDE
Stewart didn’t simply blame the officials.
In fact, she went out of her way to say she wasn’t doing that.
Her frustration centered on the fact that she believed the Liberty had specifically asked about the reset and received the wrong answer.
And that distinction matters.
Because had New York known it had the reset, the Liberty could have advanced the ball and potentially created a much cleaner catch-and-shoot opportunity.
Stewart acknowledged that there’s no guarantee the shot would have gone in.
But the Liberty could have had a better shot at tying the game.
THE WNBA’S POOL REPORT TELLS A DIFFERENT STORY
This is where the controversy gets even more interesting.
Crew chief Fatou Cissoko-Stephens disputed Stewart’s account.
According to the pool report, Cissoko-Stephens said Stewart was standing behind Fahy when he confirmed with his partner that New York did have a reset timeout remaining.
The officials also said there was no direct communication between the officials and the Liberty coaching staff regarding the timeout.
The league further clarified that timeout availability is officially tracked by the scorer’s table and statistical staff, not the on-court officials.
Teams are responsible for managing their own timeout usage, while officials can confirm the status with the table when necessary.
That’s an important piece of this story.
Because now there are two very different versions of the same sequence.
EVEN ATLANTA EXPECTED THE LIBERTY TO ADVANCE
Here’s the part that makes the situation even more fascinating.
Atlanta head coach Karl Smesko said he believed New York still had a timeout.
“I thought they had a timeout left.”
Smesko said he expected the ball to be advanced but instead Atlanta had to defend the full length of the court.
So even the opposing coach appeared to be expecting New York to use the reset.
WHAT THE RULE SAYS
The WNBA introduced the reset timeout beginning with the 2024 season.
During overtime:
- Each team receives two regular team timeouts
- Each team receives one reset timeout
- The reset can be used during the final two minutes of overtime
- The reset allows the team to advance the ball
- The reset does not carry over into the next period
The Liberty had already used their two regular overtime timeouts.
But they had not used their reset.
That’s why the final possession has become such a major talking point.
THIS DOESN’T ERASE THE LIBERTY’S OTHER MISTAKES
And this is where the story needs some balance.
New York had opportunities to win this game.
The Liberty led 96-93 in overtime before Atlanta rallied.
Sabrina Ionescu also committed a costly turnover late in the extra period, and New York had other opportunities to extend its lead.
Atlanta ultimately made the plays it needed to make.
The Dream also played without Allisha Gray, who missed Game 2 with a hand injury.
So saying “the officials cost the Liberty the game” goes further than the evidence allows.
But saying “the Liberty may have been denied the opportunity to execute their preferred final possession because of a timeout communication dispute” is a completely different—and legitimate—conversation.
THE BIGGER PROBLEM
The Liberty aren’t simply upset about a missed shot.
They’re asking:
Why did we leave the floor with a reset timeout when we believed we had been told we didn’t have one?
And the WNBA now has to explain how the communication broke down.
Because whether this was:
A.) An officiating communication error
B.) A misunderstanding between Stewart and the officials
C.) A scorer’s-table communication issue
D.) A failure by New York to independently track its timeout situation
…the result was the same.
The Liberty didn’t use a timeout they apparently still possessed.
And instead of getting the ball at halfcourt with 4.3 seconds remaining, Stewart was forced into a desperation attempt from roughly 32 feet.
📊 GAME 2 FINAL
| Team | 4Q | OT | Final |
| Atlanta Dream | 88 | 13 | 101 |
| New York Liberty | 88 | 10 | 98 |
Key performers
Angel Reese — Atlanta
23 points, including six in overtime
Jordin Canada — Atlanta
23 points, 8 assists
Breanna Stewart — New York
35 points
Marine Fauthoux — New York
20 points, including the clutch 3-pointer that forced overtime
🚨 THE SERIES IS NOW ON THE BRINK
Atlanta now leads the best-of-five semifinal series 2-0.
That means the Liberty have no margin for error.
Game 3 is Friday in Brooklyn.
And after everything that happened in Game 2, you can bet the reset-timeout situation will be one of the biggest storylines heading into it.
Did the officials’ handling of the reset timeout cost the Liberty a legitimate chance to tie the game?
Or is this ultimately on New York for not independently tracking its remaining timeout?
WHO’S RIGHT? 👇🏽
🏀 LIBERTY: They asked and were told they didn’t have it.
🧑🏽⚖️ OFFICIALS: They say the timeout was confirmed as available.
🔥 THE DEBATE: Somebody’s version of what happened doesn’t match the other’s.
What do YOU think happened?
