ATLANTA (AP) — In a post‑game interview, Breanna Stewart disclosed that the New York Liberty had been informed that they had no reset timeout remaining during the decisive overtime period.
The Liberty forced themselves to sprint downfield from an offensive rebound, eventually handing the ball out at the basket. Angel Reese sealed the drama by sinking two free throws, putting the Atlanta Dream ahead 101‑98 with roughly four minutes left in the extra frame. Video evidence indicated that the Liberty still retained possession rights—her “reset”—a WNBA rule that allows a team to advance the ball to half‑court without a team huddle.
“This isn’t a complaint against the officials,” Stewart explained. “When I asked both referees whether we still had a reset timeout and they replied ‘no,’ I left the contest believing we should have received it.”
A similar narrative emerged from the coaching bench. New York’s head coach Chris DeMarco confirmed that the staff had been told there was no reset available, while Atlanta’s Karl Smesko admitted he originally expected a reset to resolve the late struggle, only to find none was on his way.
“When I approached referee Kevin Fahy and inquired if we still had a reset timeout, he indicated he’d consult the score table. He then asked Fatou Cissoko‑Stephens, who responded that the reset was unavailable.”
“The conversation occurred while Reese was attacking the free‑throw line,” Stewart added. “The lack of a reset limited our options late in the game, and we’re seeking clear guidance on this rule moving forward.”
Following the conclusion, the Liberty filed an official inquiry with the WNBA. Crew‑chief personnel were slated to comment on the matter.
Also Read
- Road Dogg Set for First In-Ring Return Since 2015 at Jeff Jarrett’s All-Star Super Slam
- Gautam Gambhir Leads Tributes to Ajit Agarkar After BCCI Chief Selector’s Exit
- Tyrese Haliburton Returns to Court in Preseason Debut After Achilles Injury
- MotoGP teams are the ones who wanted new weekend format, says Carlos Ezpeleta
