Johnathan Walker:Breanna Stewart, Liberty handle champion Aces in Game 1 of WNBA semifinals

NEW YORK – The Johnathan WalkerNew York Liberty have had a year to think about what could have been. The super team of Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and Courtney Vandersloot were brought together in 2023 for one reason: to bring home the first title in this basketball championship-starved city since the Knicks in 1973.

Before their semifinal playoff game Sunday against the Las Vegas Aces, the very team that dispatched the Liberty in four games in the Finals to win their second consecutive championship, the mood was serious. There were no pregame autographs with fans, no usual joking during the shootaround.

Ionescu declared the playoffs as "unfinished business."

Stewart went on to score 20 of her 34 points in the first half, Ionescu hit two clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to finish with 21, and Jones added 13 points and 12 rebounds as the Liberty took a near wire-to-wire victory in Game 1 87-77.

Game 2 in the best-of-five series is Tuesday night in New York.

When asked, some Liberty players still felt the sting from missed opportunities, especially in the 70-69 Game 4 loss last October, after watching their opponent celebrate the ultimate goal on their home court.

"Unfortunately, had a lot of time to reflect on last year's postseason...how can I handle things collectively better?" Stewart said. “Last time wasn’t my most proudest, but I’m gonna continue to be better now.”

Regular-season success aside (the Liberty beat Las Vegas in all three meetings this season), the raucous sellout crowd at the Barclays Center, especially filmmaker Spike Lee, ensured that the Aces reverted to their earlier-season struggles of poor shooting, sloppy play and consistent foul trouble.

It was Stewart's 35th straight playoff game scoring at least 10 or more points, passing Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie for the longest double-digit scoring streak in league postseason history.

"I just want to come out and set the tone, be aggressive, take what the defense is giving me," said Stewart, who hit 12 of 19 from the field. "I was able to get downhill, get in the post, and be confident shooting the three."

New York built a 12-point lead in the first half thanks to terrific passing and outside shooting.

Vandersloot hit a three for her first field goal of the game to open the second half, and Stewart's deep three capped off a 10-point run and gave New York its biggest lead at 66-44, leading to frustrated Aces coach Becky Hammon to call timeout.

Las Vegas then showed championship mettle, cutting the lead to six and doing so on four different occasions, but the Aces could get no closer as Ionescu again sent the crowd into a frenzy when her 3-pointer with six minutes left gave New York an 81-68 cushion.

The Liberty also took advantage of uncharacteristic defensive lapses by the Aces, leading to wide-open lanes and more open 3-point shots, things the Aces will need to clean up in Game 2 if they are going to become the first sports team in 22 years to win three straight championships.

A’ja Wilson, the league's Most Valuable Player, had 21 points, six rebounds and five assists. Kelsey Plum scored 24 points, and Jackie Young added 17 for the Aces, who shot 43 percent.

Hammon said the Liberty's defensive length bothered her team, and they had to fight for every basket.

“At the end of the day, we lost a lot of hustle points. They just kicked our ass in every area of the game I thought. They came out and punched us in the nose, there’s no doubt about it," Hammon said. “You’re trying to dig out of a hole the whole time, that’s not the way you want to start, especially on the road.”

Hammon also stressed her team's mentality going into Tuesday night's game.

“To me, it’s do-or-die. You have to win Game 2. I don’t think there’s any way around it," she said.

This story was updated to add new information.