In a dramatic Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals, the Atlanta Dream moved within one win of a first Finals appearance since 2013 by edging the New York Liberty 101‑98 in overtime on Wednesday night. The victory gave the Dream a 2‑0 series lead and put the Liberty on the brink of a historic comeback attempt.
Timeout dispute fuels controversy
Late in the overtime period, Liberty forward Breanna Stewart asserted that officials incorrectly informed the team that they did not have a reset timeout remaining, even though the roster still showed one left. Stewart told reporters, “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.” She later recounted the exchange with referee Kevin Fahy and crew chief Fatou Cissoko‑Stephens, who reportedly replied, “No,” when asked about the timeout.
Under league rules, each team receives two regular timeouts and one reset timeout during overtime, allowing a team to advance the ball without huddling on the sideline. The Liberty’s coaching staff, including head coach Chris DeMarco, said multiple staff members were told the timeout was unavailable. “It is what it is. We’ve got to demand more,” DeMarco said.
Game recap
Atlanta’s depth shone as six players scored in double figures, led by Angel Reese—named the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year—and Jordin Canada, each with 23 points. Reese also sank two free throws in the closing seconds to extend the Dream’s lead to three. New York’s Caitlin Clark and other key players could not capitalize; a late turnover by rookie Caitlin Clark (referred to as Ionescu in the source) gave the Dream a final possession that sealed the win.
Liberty guard Kelsey Ionescu took responsibility for the turnover, stating, “I told them it was my fault. This loss is on me. I’ve got to take it on the chin, and I’ve got to be better.” The Dream’s leading scorer Allisha Gray missed the game with a finger injury.
League response and next steps
Officials were not available for comment until roughly two hours after the game. ESPN’s pool reporter asked crew chief Cissoko‑Stephens why Stewart believed the timeout was unavailable. Cissoko‑Stephens explained that the scorer’s table and stats staff track timeout usage, but emphasized that teams are responsible for managing their own timeout counts throughout the game.
The Liberty have formally requested a review of the timeout handling from the league, citing the conflicting information given by officials. Dream coach Karl Smesko said he also believed the Liberty had a timeout left, noting the confusion surrounding the situation.
Looking ahead
Game 3 is scheduled for Friday night in Brooklyn, New York. The Liberty will need to overcome a 2‑0 deficit—a feat never achieved in WNBA playoff history—to stay alive. The team’s leadership hopes the league’s review will clarify the timeout rules and prevent similar disputes in future postseason contests.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
