WNBA officials and Breanna Stewart dispute timeout status as Dream clinch Game 2 win

Referee Fatou Cissoko‑Stephens says a reset timeout was available, while Stewart says officials told her none existed.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 08 Oct 2026 08:24:33 GMT

In Game 2 of the 2026 WNBA semifinals, the Atlanta Dream defeated the New York Liberty 101‑98 in overtime at State Farm Arena. After the game, a dispute emerged over whether the Liberty had a reset timeout, with WNBA referee operations official Fatou Cissoko‑Stephens and Liberty star Breanna Stewart giving conflicting accounts.

What happened

The Dream took a 2‑0 series lead after a 101‑98 overtime victory on October 8, 2026. Angel Reese hit two penalty free throws in overtime and later scored the decisive basket, while Naz Hillmon added a late jumper. The Liberty’s final chance came when Stewart launched a desperation heave after the Dream failed to call a timeout, but the shot missed following a turnover by Sabrina Ionescu.

What the reports add

Gulf News reported that Cissoko‑Stephens said the Liberty had a reset timeout available after Reese’s free throws and that Stewart was standing beside referee Kevin Fahy when he confirmed the timeout with another official. The outlet notes that the pool report states there was no direct communication with Liberty staff about the timeout status. Bleacher Report focused on the game’s flow, highlighting Reese’s free throws, Hillmon’s basket and the overall performance of the Dream, but did not address the timeout dispute.

What was said

Fatou Cissoko‑Stephens told Gulf News that “Stewart was present when Fahy confirmed that New York had a reset timeout available,” and added that “available timeouts are tracked by the scorer’s …”. Breanna Stewart, speaking at the post‑game press conference, told Gulf News, “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… it’s pretty frustrating.”

How it came about

The dispute follows a series of high‑stakes games between the Dream and Liberty. Earlier in the playoffs, the Dream defeated Washington to reach the semifinals (Felo coverage on October 1). The two teams also met in late September, with the Dream winning 95‑84 (Felo coverage on September 22) and Reese setting a rebounding record earlier in the season (Felo coverage on September 20). Stewart’s World Cup MVP award and playoff push were highlighted by Felo on September 18, underscoring her central role in the Liberty’s postseason run.

Key facts

Atlanta Dream won Game 2 of the semifinals 101‑98 in overtime. (bleacherreport.com)
Angel Reese hit two penalty free throws in overtime and scored the winning basket. (bleacherreport.com)
WNBA official Fatou Cissoko‑Stephens said a reset timeout was available to New York. (gulfnews.com)
Breanna Stewart said officials told her the Liberty had no reset timeout. (gulfnews.com)

Where accounts differ

Whether New York Liberty had a reset timeout at the end of overtime.: Cissoko‑Stephens said officials confirmed a reset timeout was available. (gulfnews.com); Stewart said officials told her there was no reset timeout. (gulfnews.com)