The New York Liberty entered State Farm Arena on Wednesday night looking to avenge their Game 1 loss in front of 9,574 fans. But Breanna Stewart’s historic performance was not enough to help New York even the series. So as the game slipped away in overtime, Stewart made sure to voice her frustration over an officiating decision that left the Liberty believing they had no timeouts left.
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“Breanna Stewart expressed frustration postgame about the referees. After Angel Reese’s free throw, there was confusion about a reset timeout. Stewart says the refs told her they did not have one. However, there was one. Chris DeMarco says he was told there wasn’t one. Will seek clarity on this,” Meghan L. Hall reported on X.
The Liberty put up a much better fight on Wednesday than they did in Game 1, pushing Atlanta all the way into overtime after the teams were tied at 88 at the end of regulation. New York had several chances to steal the game, but with just six seconds remaining in OT, a foul call on Marine Fauthoux sent Angel Reese to the free-throw line.
Reese calmly knocked down both attempts to put the Dream ahead 101-98, but the sequence also left the Liberty wondering what could have been. As Reese stood at the line, Breanna Stewart recalled asking the officials whether New York had a reset timeout available. But according to Stewart, she was told they did not.
“I asked Kevin (Fahy), I said, ‘Do we have a reset timeout?’ And he said, ‘I’m going to check at the table,’” Stewart said, according to USA Today. “So then he looked to Fatou (Cissoko-Stephens), and she said, ‘No.’ So then he told me no. Of course, who knows what would happen in the game, but we would have hopefully a better shot on goal.”
Unable to use their timeout, the Liberty were left with only 4.3 seconds after Reese’s two free throws, forcing them to rush their final possession. Stewart received the ball and attempted a 32-foot three-pointer, but the shot missed as Atlanta held on for another victory.
Still, the timeout confusion was only one of several moments that kept the Liberty from turning this game into a win. Even though the Liberty showed considerably more effort this time, Atlanta continued to find answers whenever the 2024 WNBA champions threatened to take control. Breanna Stewart’s heroics on her historic night could not push New York over the line.
Stewart became the first player in WNBA playoff history to record 35 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. She also had two blocks and one steal.
But Atlanta just had more than enough firepower to withstand it. Angel Reese continued to make her presence felt for the Dream, finishing with 23 points and seven rebounds despite playing through significant foul trouble. The Dream also got enough from their supporting cast, with Jordin Canada adding 23 points while three other starters and one player off the bench also finished in double figures to force the Liberty into another painful finish.
With just one loss in their name, Breanna Stewart and her teammates had a comfortable chance to win this game and even the series, but they now sit 0-2. Another loss will bring an end to their run and will push the Atlanta Dream to the finals without a single loss in the playoffs.
The next game will take place on October 9 at Barclays Center, and this time the Liberty will have a home-court advantage. But the loss leaves New York in a difficult position, as now they have no room for error if they want to keep their season alive.