ATLANTA — The New York Liberty fell behind 2-0 in their WNBA semifinal series against the Atlanta Dream after a close 101-98 overtime loss in Game 2. However, the outcome wasn’t the only cause for frustration for the Liberty following the game.
New York forward Breanna Stewart voiced her disappointment over a timeout issue in overtime. She believed the team could have used a reset timeout during the final seconds, allowing them to advance the ball after Angel Reese made two free throws with just four seconds left. Stewart explained that when she asked the officials about the reset timeout, she was told there wasn’t one remaining, which prevented the Liberty from setting up a final play. “I asked Kevin (Fahy), ‘Do we have a reset timeout?’ He checked with Fatou (Cissoko-Stephens), who said no. So I was told no. Of course, who knows what could have happened, but we would have ideally gotten a better shot,” Stewart said, referring to her long 32-foot three-pointer at the buzzer.
Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco confirmed he was informed there was no reset timeout available, saying, “Multiple staff members checked, and we were told we didn’t have it. It is what it is. We have to demand more, but that’s the situation.”
Meanwhile, Dream coach Karl Smesko shared that he expected the Liberty to bring the ball up to halfcourt for a final shot, assuming they had a timeout remaining. “I thought they had a timeout left, but they played it out the way they did. So I was expecting it to be advanced, but it wasn’t. Fortunately, we managed to get the defensive stop,” Smesko said.
This article first appeared on USA TODAY: Liberty’s playoff misery deepens with late-game timeout confusion.
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Fan Take: This timeout controversy highlights how critical clear communication and clock management are in high-stakes playoff basketball, especially in the WNBA where every possession counts. For fans and the sport, it emphasizes the need for consistent officiating protocols to ensure fairness and maintain trust in crucial moments.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
