The Atlanta Dream secured a crucial victory against the New York Liberty, edging closer to their first WNBA Finals appearance since 2013. With a thrilling 101-98 overtime win, they now lead the semifinal series 2-0.
The exciting finish, however, was marred by controversy. New York’s Breanna Stewart claimed that officials wrongly informed the Liberty about timeout availability in the game’s final moments. Despite having a reset timeout, they were told otherwise, leading to frustration.
‘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 expressed post-game.
Under WNBA rules, during overtime, each team is granted two team timeouts plus a reset timeout. The reset timeout assists in advancing the ball without needing a sidelines huddle. Stewart recounted her conversation with official Kevin Fahy, who checked with crew chief Fatou Cissoko-Stephens and confirmed no reset timeouts remained.
A crucial turnover by New York allowed the Dream to solidify their lead. Angel Reese, honored as the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, made two free throws, increasing Atlanta’s lead. New York attempted a last-ditch shot by Stewart, which failed as time expired.
Karl Smesko, Dream’s coach, believed the Liberty had a timeout left but noted they proceeded differently. Despite expectations, the Dream managed to halt New York’s advance successfully.
Technical officials, including Cissoko-Stephens, emphasized the responsibility of teams to monitor their timeouts. Stewart’s alleged inquiry to the refs remains under scrutiny, with New York seeking clarification from the league.
In crucial moments, the Liberty faltered. Sabrina Ionescu mishandled the ball in overtime’s tense final seconds, conceding possession and acknowledging her error took a toll on the outcome.
Atlanta exhibited depth with six players in double figures. Reese and Jordin Canada led with 23 points each. The Dream overcame the absence of top scorer Allisha Gray, sidelined due to injury.
The Liberty face a challenging task to overcome a 2-0 series deficit, a feat never accomplished in WNBA history. The series continues in Brooklyn for Game 3.