{
  "id": 12806531,
  "title": "Liberty leave Atlanta mired in timeout controversy, 2-0 semifinal deficit and missed opportunities",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/liberty-leave-atlanta-mired-in-timeout-controversy-2-0-semifinal",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-08T06:22:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/wnba/article/liberty-leave-atlanta-mired-in-timeout-controversy-2-0-semifinal-deficit-and-missed-opportunities-062221599.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The New York Liberty faced a timeout controversy during Game 2 of their WNBA semifinals against the Dream, which ultimately cost them the series. With 4.3 seconds left in the overtime period, the Liberty had a reset timeout available, but they mistakenly put Angel Reese on the free throw line.\n\nBreanna Stewart approached officials, inquiring whether the team had a reset timeout. After initial confusion, the officials confirmed that the Liberty had a reset timeout, but it was too late. The Dream went on to win the game 101-98, putting the Liberty on the brink of elimination.\n\nThis timeout controversy overshadowed the team's already difficult circumstances, as they were trailing 0-2 in the best-of-five series. The error raised questions about whether the Liberty could have won the game had the timeout issue not arisen. The Liberty's head coach, Chris DeMarco, expressed frustration with the situation, stating, \"Same thing. We got to demand more.\"\n\nThe Liberty now face the possibility of being swept in the WNBA semifinals, a disappointing outcome for a team that possesses substantial talent, including four starters who won a championship together two years ago.",
  "summary": "The timeout dispute that ended Wednesday's Game 2 will ultimately overshadow the hole the Liberty dug themselves into.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}