Dream take 2-0 lead as timeout accounts conflict

The Atlanta Dream defeated the New York Liberty 101-98 in overtime in Game 2 of their WNBA semifinal series, taking a 2-0 lead as a disagreement over a late-game timeout added uncertainty to the finish. New York has made an official inquiry to the league about what officials communicated and whether a reset timeout was available. With 4.3 seconds remaining and the Liberty trailing by three, New York inbounded the ball under its basket instead of using a reset timeout to advance it to halfcourt. Breanna Stewart attempted a 32-foot shot that missed, and Atlanta secured the victory. The loss left the Liberty one defeat from elimination. Stewart said after the game that she asked officials whether New York had a reset timeout and was told it did not. Liberty coach Chris DeMarco gave a similar account, saying the team had received the same information before the final inbound. Stewart said the confusion was frustrating, while noting she was not blaming the referees. The league’s account differs on a key part of the exchange.