The New York Liberty entered Friday night fighting to save their season in Brooklyn, trying to avert a semifinal sweep against the Atlanta Dream in Game 3 of their best-of-five WNBA playoff series at Barclays Center.
Down 2-0, New York hopes to accomplish something no team in league history has achieved by overcoming a 2-0 postseason deficit, Yahoo Sports reported. Meanwhile, the visiting Dream entered the matchup on a four-game winning streak against the Liberty dating back to the regular season, according to the New York Post.
Officiating dispute lingers after Game 2
The elimination contest arrived under the shadow of a contentious finish to Wednesday’s 101-98 overtime loss in Atlanta. Late in that matchup, Liberty star Breanna Stewart believed New York had been wrongly told by game officials that it had no reset timeouts remaining, Bleacher Report reported.
Under rules introduced prior to the 2024 season, WNBA teams receive one reset timeout in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime to make substitutions and advance the ball without huddling. Stewart stated that referee Kevin Fahy checked with partner Fatou Cissoko-Stephens, who signaled negatively, prompting Fahy to tell Stewart that the Liberty could not reset. Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco said he was also told the team lacked a reset timeout.
However, a postgame pool report presented a contradictory account, claiming an official confirmed to Fahy that New York held a reset timeout while Stewart stood nearby, USA TODAY reported.
A WNBA spokesperson said in a statement provided to ESPN that video and audio showed a “misunderstanding” sparked by overlapping discussions and nonverbal cues between referees, bench personnel and Stewart. The league noted that officials received feedback on handling such moments better and that no further action would occur.
Ahead of Friday’s tipoff, Stewart expressed frustration over the situation.
“Putting me in a position to question my integrity is really disappointing. And I know who I am and what I stand for, and what I heard, and that’s that,” Stewart said, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Stewart added that building respect requires honesty and trust between players and referees, according to ESPN. Neither Fahy nor Cissoko-Stephens was assigned to work Friday’s game in Brooklyn, Bleacher Report noted.
Dream push forward without Allisha Gray
Despite holding command of the series, Atlanta faced its own major lineup challenge. The Dream ruled out leading scorer Allisha Gray for Game 3 due to a left hand injury suffered during Game 1 on Oct. 4, USA TODAY Sports reported.
Gray exited in the first quarter of the series opener after hurting her wrist and hand area. Although she returned briefly with two fingers taped, she aggravated the hand while diving for a loose ball before halftime and did not play again. She watched Game 2 from the bench wearing a splint and a heavy brace.
Dream head coach Karl Smesko told reporters prior to Game 3 that Gray participated in pregame workouts but medical staff held her out out of caution.
“(The staff) came back and said that (Alisha Gray) was out today. She’s been making good progress since her injury, but in the interest of caution, they ruled her out for today,” Smesko said, according to USA TODAY Sports.
Veteran forward DeWanna Bonner started in Gray’s place in Game 2. Dream forward Naz Hillmon said the squad adopted a “next woman up” mentality, adding that teammates understood they needed to carry a heavier load to compensate for Gray’s two-way production.
Turnovers dictate the series
Atlanta’s defense, anchored by Defensive Player of the Year Angel Reese, has capitalized repeatedly on New York’s ball-handling errors throughout the series. According to the New York Post, the Liberty gave up 17 turnovers in Game 2, which Atlanta converted into 28 points. Through the first two games, the Dream produced 60 total points off New York giveaways.
Whether New York can protect the ball and begin an unprecedented postseason comeback, or if Atlanta can finish the sweep short-handed, remains to be determined on the court.
