ESPN video shows Breanna Stewart asking ref about reset timeout at end of Liberty’s Game 2 loss

NEW YORK — In footage showing part of a disputed interaction between Breanna Stewart and an official, ESPN video shows the New York Liberty forward asking a referee about a reset timeout near the end of Wednesday night's overtime WNBA playoff loss to the Atlanta Dream.

In the video, which aired Thursday on ESPN's "NBA Today," Stewart can be seen turning toward official Kevin Fahy and is heard asking , "Do we have a reset?" But it is unclear from the video or audio whether Fahy, shown behind Stewart's position between free throws by Atlanta's Angel Reese, acknowledged Stewart or answered her question. He appears to be communicating toward the scorer's table.

In a postgame pool report, lead official Fatou Cissoko-Stephens said Stewart was told the Liberty had a reset timeout, contradicting Stewart's comments immediately after the game in which she said she was told the opposite.

The Liberty had one reset timeout remaining, meaning they could advance the ball to mid-court down three points to the Dream with 4.3 seconds left, but they did not use it. Instead, New York inbounded the ball from the baseline, and Stewart's desperation heave missed in the 101-98 loss.

"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, and then we leave the game with a reset timeout, it's pretty frustrating," Stewart said late Wednesday night. "Yeah, OK, I kind of got a good look at the end, but would just love to have some clarity on that situation."

The Liberty have filed an inquiry with the league to look into the situation, according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren't permitted to speak publicly on the matter. The league received Liberty's inquiry and is looking into the matter, according to another source familiar with the process who spoke on condition of anonymity because they also weren't permitted to speak publicly.

After the game, Stewart said Fahy told her he was checking on the Liberty's available reset timeouts and asked Cissoko-Stephens before telling Stewart the Liberty did not have one. New York coach Chris DeMarco also said officials told them New York did not have a reset timeout.

But in the pool report, Cissoko-Stephens said there was no "direct communication" between the officials and the Liberty's coaching staff.

"Stewart was standing behind referee (Kevin) Fahy when he confirmed with his (officiating) partner between (Angel) Reese's penalty free throws that the Liberty did indeed have a reset (timeout) remaining," Cissoko-Stephens told reporters after the game.

Dream coach Karl Smesko said he was aware the Liberty had a reset timeout and expected them to use it. Instead, the final possession was Stewart heaving the ball from halfcourt as time expired. The Liberty's bench appeared confused during the last seconds of the game.

The WNBA rulebook states that each team is entitled to one reset timeout in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. Teams also receive one reset timeout in the final two minutes of overtime.

The Dream took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five game series, putting them one game away from making their first WNBA Finals appearance since 2013. The series continues in New York on Friday with a must-win Game 3 for the Liberty, though no team in WNBA history has ever come back after going down 2-0 in a five-game series.