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WNBA Inquiry Filed After Timeout Confusion in Liberty Loss

By Drooid · Oct 8, 2026, 4:27 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Stewart Overtime Loss

Breanna Stewart scored 35 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in a 101-98 overtime loss.
Angel Reese hit both free throws with 4.3 seconds left to clinch Atlanta’s win.
Stewart asked officials about a reset timeout and was told none existed.
The loss dropped the Liberty to 0-2, forcing a must-win Game 3 on Oct 9 at Barclays Center.

Summary

DeMarco Files Inquiry

The WNBA pool report confirmed the Liberty still had a reset timeout with 4.3 seconds left.
Coach Chris DeMarco lodged an official WNBA inquiry about the alleged timeout miscommunication.
Crew chief Fatou Cissoko-Stephens said officials may verify timeouts but do not track them.
The league reiterated each team receives one reset in the final two minutes of any overtime.

History

Historical Context

When the WNBA launched in 1997, the league instituted a single “reset” timeout for overtime periods, a rule codified in its inaugural rulebook. Commissioner Val Ackerman’s 1997 handbook specified exactly one 30-second reset per team, a detail referenced in the 2024 official WNBA operations guide. Liberty star Breanna Stewart’s contested timeout, coach Chris DeMarco’s formal inquiry, and crew chief Fatou Cissoko-Stephens’s clarification mirror that original rule that officials verify only the reset, not every request. The lingering confusion urges the WNBA to adopt real-time tracking technology, likely prompting a 2025 rule amendment to eliminate future disputes.

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Stewart Overtime Loss

Breanna Stewart scored 35 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in a 101-98 overtime loss.
Angel Reese hit both free throws with 4.3 seconds left to clinch Atlanta’s win.
Stewart asked officials about a reset timeout and was told none existed.
The loss dropped the Liberty to 0-2, forcing a must-win Game 3 on Oct 9 at Barclays Center.

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