NEW YORK – The New York Liberty had a year to reflect on their near-misses. The flashily assembled team of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, and Courtney Vandersloot was joined in 2023 with one goal in mind: to secure the city’s first championship title since the Knicks in 1973.

As they approached their semifinal playoff matchup on Sunday against the Las Vegas Aces—the very team that defeated the Liberty in the Finals last year—tension filled the air. The usual pregame fan interactions and lighthearted banter were absent.

Ionescu referred to the playoffs as “unfinished business.”

Stewart excelled, scoring 20 of her 34 points in the first half, with Ionescu contributing two critical 3-pointers in the final quarter for a total of 21 points. Jones rounded out the effort with 13 points and 12 rebounds, leading the Liberty to a solid start with an 87-77 victory in Game 1.

The series continues with Game 2 on Tuesday night in New York.

Some Liberty players still felt the heartache from lost chances, especially recalling the closely contested 70-69 Game 4 loss last October, which ended with their opponent celebrating on the Liberty’s home court.

“Unfortunately, I had plenty of time to think about last year’s playoffs how could I collectively improve?” Stewart remarked. “My previous performance wasn’t my best, but I aim to keep getting better.”

Despite their regular-season success (the Liberty bested Las Vegas in all three encounters this season), the vibrant, full-capacity crowd at Barclays Center—including notable filmmaker Spike Lee—saw the Aces revert to their earlier struggles characterized by poor shooting, careless errors, and foul difficulties.

This marked Stewart’s 35th consecutive playoff game scoring at least 10 points, surpassing Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie’s record for the longest double-digit scoring streak in league postseason history.

“I just want to come out and set the pace, remain aggressive, and take what’s available from the defense,” Stewart said, boasting a shooting performance of 12 for 19 from the field. “I was able to drive, post up, and confidently shoot from beyond the arc.”

The Liberty jumped out to a 12-point advantage early, thanks to excellent ball movement and shooting from distance.

Vandersloot nailed a three-pointer to kick off the second half, followed by Stewart’s deep three that capped off a 10-point run, extending New York’s lead to 66-44, prompting Aces head coach Becky Hammon to call a timeout.

Las Vegas displayed their championship prowess, narrowing the gap to just six points multiple times, yet they couldn’t forge ahead as Ionescu electrified the crowd with another 3-pointer, placing New York up 81-68 with six minutes on the clock.

The Liberty capitalized on atypical defensive mistakes by the Aces, resulting in open lanes to the basket and unguarded 3-point attempts. The Aces will need to rectify these issues heading into Game 2 if they hope to become the first sports team in 22 years to achieve a three-peat in championships.

A’ja Wilson, the league’s MVP, contributed 21 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Kelsey Plum scored 24 points, while Jackie Young added 17 for the Aces, who shot 43 percent overall.

Hammon acknowledged that the Liberty’s defensive reach troubled her team, forcing them to battle hard for each shot.

“We lost a lot of effort plays. They truly overwhelmed us in every facet of the game today. They came out swinging, no doubt about it,” Hammon stated. “You don’t want to start off the series that way, especially not on the road.”

Hammon emphasized the urgent mindset her team must adopt ahead of Tuesday’s match.

“This is do-or-die. We have to win Game 2. I don’t see any alternative,” she affirmed.

This story was updated with additional information.