One and Fun! Liberty Take WNBA Playoff Opener From Mystics

The New York Liberty got back in the swing of things with a dominant second half against the Washington Mystics in Game 1 of a best-of-three playoff series.

BROOKLYN-A playoff trip led by new, historic faces was ignited by a few familiar names.

Sabrina Ionescu and Betnijah Laney paced the New York Liberty's return to the postseason, guiding the team to a 90-75 victory over the Washington Mystics to open a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. 

Set to lead their third consecutive playoff trip as New Yorkers, Ionescu and Laney helped the second-seeded Liberty hold off a feisty challenge from seventh-ranked Washington, the only team other than No. 1 Las Vegas to beat them twice in the regular season. Ionescu scored 29 points in the second half, building a majority of her haul with a Liberty playoff record seven three-pointers, breaking the previous mark of five shared by Vickie Johnson (2002) and Cappie Pondexter (2010). 

Brandon Todd, NY Liberty

New York trailed for a majority of the first half but Laney kept them afloat by scoring 14 of her 19 points over the first 20 minutes, the final couple coming via a buzzer-beater that established a five-point lead into the halftime break. The Liberty trailed 29-23 after the opening period but did not allow more than 18 points in any of the final three periods. 

In addition to Ionescu's prowess from deep, the Liberty also enjoyed a 20-point, 12-assist double-double from Jonquel Jones, improved to 12-0 when the 2021 MVP has at least 10 of each. Myisha Hines-Allen led the way for Washington with 21 points.

The Liberty will have a chance to close out the best-of-three series on Tuesday night back in Brooklyn (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).