The New York Liberty’s 101–98 overtime loss to the Atlanta Dream on October 7 sparked a dispute over a remaining reset timeout. Breanna Stewart said officials told her team it had none available, contradicting the initial pool report.
On October 9, the WNBA acknowledged that Stewart had asked about the reset and said the exchange could have been handled better.
Atlanta subsequently won Game 3, 85–83, completing a 3–0 semifinal sweep and ending New York’s season.
The league later clarified the timeout dispute
Stewart said she asked about New York’s reset timeout while Angel Reese was at the free-throw line late in overtime. According to Stewart, officials told her it was unavailable.
The initial pool report disputed her account. On October 9, the WNBA confirmed that Stewart had asked Fahy about the reset and described a misunderstanding involving overlapping exchanges.
The statement did not establish exactly what answer officials gave her.
The final possession became the center of the controversy
With 4.3 seconds remaining in overtime, Atlanta’s Angel Reese converted 2 free throws to give the Dream a 101-98 advantage. New York needed a 3-pointer to tie the game and force another period.
Stewart attempted a long shot from approximately 32 feet as time expired. The ball missed, ending the Liberty’s chance to extend the contest and handing Atlanta a valuable second victory in the series.
A reset timeout could have allowed New York to advance the ball to the frontcourt, potentially creating a more favorable opportunity. It remains impossible to know whether a different decision would have changed the result.
The video prompted a league clarification
Postgame footage showed Stewart seeking clarification from Fahy about New York’s reset timeout, challenging the initial description of the exchange.
After reviewing the video and audio, the WNBA acknowledged on October 9 that Stewart had asked about the reset. It said officials received feedback on how to handle such interactions.
The league’s response did not settle whether Stewart was told the timeout was unavailable.
Understanding the WNBA’s reset timeout rule
Under WNBA rules, each team receives one reset in the final 2 minutes of the fourth quarter and another in the final 2 minutes of an overtime period. The reset allows a team to advance the ball to the frontcourt.
The reset is separate from a conventional timeout, which can be used for a broader range of purposes. That difference became central to the Liberty’s late-game confusion after New York had used its regular overtime timeouts.
A reset can be particularly valuable when a team trails by 3 points and has only seconds remaining. Moving the ball closer to the basket can reduce the distance needed for a potential tying shot, although it cannot guarantee a better result.
Fun fact: Breanna Stewart learned to dribble between her legs by practicing in her childhood home’s basement in New York.
Stewart delivered a major performance despite the loss
Stewart finished Game 2 with 35 points, leading New York’s scoring effort in a contest that required overtime. Her production kept the Liberty competitive as Atlanta fought back and eventually secured the win.
The result was especially frustrating because the Liberty had opportunities to close out the game before overtime. Late possessions, turnovers and defensive stops shaped the outcome alongside the disputed timeout situation.
Stewart’s comments did not establish that officiating alone caused the defeat. The final result reflected a full game of decisions and execution, even as the disagreement over the reset timeout raised legitimate questions about communication.
Atlanta converted its advantage into a sweep
Reese scored 23 points in Game 2, matching Jordin Canada’s team-high total. Her 2 late free throws established the 101–98 final margin.
Atlanta then won Game 3 in Brooklyn, completing a 3–0 sweep. Reese scored 22 points in the clincher as the Dream advanced to the WNBA Finals.
New York’s championship pursuit ended with that defeat.
The dispute also raised coaching questions
The Liberty submitted an official inquiry about the Game 2 exchange. Coach Chris DeMarco said the team had someone responsible for tracking timeouts and acknowledged that its staff should have pushed harder.
The WNBA subsequently reviewed the incident and described a misunderstanding. Its response did not change the game result.
The dispute became part of New York’s postseason review after Atlanta completed the sweep.
Game 3 ended New York’s season
The Liberty’s elimination game took place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on October 9. Atlanta won 85–83, completing the semifinal sweep.
Stewart and Jonquel Jones scored 26 points apiece, but New York could not force another game. Atlanta advanced to its first WNBA Finals since 2013.
The timeout controversy remained part of the Game 2 discussion, while Game 3 settled the series on the court.
TL;DR
- Stewart disputed the officiating account of New York’s unused Game 2 reset timeout.
- The WNBA later acknowledged her inquiry and said the exchange could have been handled better.
- Atlanta won Game 2, 101–98 in overtime.
- Stewart scored 35 points; Reese and Jordin Canada shared Atlanta’s scoring lead with 23 each.
- Atlanta won Game 3, 85–83, completing a 3–0 sweep and eliminating New York.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
