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Liberty leave Atlanta mired in timeout controversy, 2-0 semifinal deficit and missed opportunities

The New York Liberty’s postseason hopes took a devastating turn in Game 2 of their semifinal series against the Connecticut Sun, as a series of missed opportunities and a controversial timeout call left them facing an insurmountable 2-0 deficit. Trailing by one with 4.3 seconds left in overtime, the Liberty sent Angel Reese to the free-throw line, only to see their potential comeback collapse after officials ruled they had no reset timeout remaining—despite Breanna Stewart’s inquiry to referee Kevin Fahy.

The call came after Fahy consulted with head official Fatou Cissoko-Stephens, who confirmed the timeout was unavailable, though later reports suggested Stewart was assured the timeout was still active. The Liberty’s final possession—a tipped pass to Stewart leading to a missed 32-foot shot—sealed their fate as the Sun won 101-98, eliminating any chance of a historic comeback from a 2-0 hole in WNBA playoff history.

Head coach Chris DeMarco and Stewart later clarified the confusion stemmed from miscommunication, with the Liberty formally disputing the ruling through league channels. The incident underscored deeper issues in timeout tracking, as officials clarified teams must manage their own usage while the scorer’s table handles verification—leaving room for error in high-pressure moments.

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