Liberty, WNBA refs have different stories about bizarre timeout confusion

The New York Liberty desperately needed a victory in Game 2 of their WNBA semifinals series against the Atlanta Dream. Things looked bleak toward the end of regulation before rookie Marine Fauthoux sank a game-tying three-pointer with 10.3 seconds left to force overtime. The Liberty also found themselves in a three-point hole during the waning seconds of the extra period, but that possession turned into a nightmare and they could not get a good shot off.

MORE: 2026 WNBA Playoffs, 3 top storylines entering Game 2 of Semifinals

Bizarrely, New York opted not to use their reset timeout to advance the ball to midcourt, which surely would have provided the opportunity for a better look at the basket. There is absolutely no reason not to use the reset timeout and ESPN’s Ryan Ruocco was appropriately shocked at the Liberty’s decision.

Liberty botch final possession

They did not get what they needed as Atlanta escaped with a 101-98 overtime victory.

Ryan Ruocco is INCREDULOUS over the New York Liberty not calling a timeout late in overtime to advance the ball! https://t.co/Y9DaEiEdWK
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 8, 2026

After the game, we got some insight on just what the heck happened to doom the Liberty on the final possession.

“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,” Breanna Stewart said.

“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 a reset timeout, it’s pretty frustrating.”Breanna Stewart after the Liberty’s overtime loss in Game 2. https://t.co/MaPNABMaRN
— ESPN (@espn) October 8, 2026

That’s quite a claim. The Liberty have reportedly filed an inquiry with the league in an attempt to get to the bottom of what happened out there. Head coach Chris DeMarco was also under the impression his team no longer had the reset timeout.

“Yeah, same thing,” he said. “They just said we didn’t have it. Multiple staff members [were told]. It is what it is. We’ve got to demand more. But it is what it is.”

WNBA: Playoffs-New York Liberty at Atlanta Dream

Oct 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Liberty forward Leonie Fiebich (13) is defended by Atlanta Dream forward DeWanna Bonner (24) in the fourth quarter during game one of the second round for the 2026 WNBA Playoffs at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Strangely enough, the Dream coaching staff did know that the Liberty had the timeout available.

Liberty now down 2-0

So here we are, the morning after yet another great display of WNBA basketball and we’re being distracted by a sideshow. There will be some answers here because the league cannot have players and coaches claiming officials gave them inaccurate information at the most critical juncture. That’s not really going to go away.

It is very unusual, though, for a play-by-play broadcaster to have a better grasp of all that’s going on and preferred strategy than an entire coaching staff. Whatever the refs did in the final seconds, it was completely knowable whether or not the option to advance the ball was in play or not. There’s really no shame in making sure there’s a definitive answer before a chance to tie just evaporates into thin air.

It’s worth noting that the Liberty miraculously forcing another overtime with a clutch shot would only have reset their odds back at a coin flip. It’s not like the breakdown in communication is why they lost.

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