Liberty’s Jonquel Jones Praises Rookie Pauline Astier

At the start of training camp, Liberty center Jonquel Jones wasn’t really acquainted with French guard Pauline Astier. But, it didn’t take long for her to express that she’s a “huge fan of Pauline.”

Astier carries a quiet confidence that becomes evident during pivotal moments, as seen in Saturday’s game against the Indiana Fever, where New York secured an 83-75 victory. With just under three minutes left, she drove past Caitlin Clark and made a layup, extending the Liberty’s lead by four points. By the end of the match, she had tallied six points, an assist, and a rebound in those crucial last minutes, contributing to the team’s fourth consecutive win.

“She’s a really great player,” Jones noted. “I often have to remind myself she’s a rookie in this league, but I’m really impressed by her. I like how she approaches the game on and off the court; she stays calm.”

Astier, who is 24, has been playing professionally overseas since her teenage years. This past spring, she chose to join the Liberty in the WNBA.

With Sabrina Ionescu sidelined due to a left foot injury and then a sore back, Astier has unexpectedly taken on a key facilitating role. Her game is versatile; she’s smart, has a good court vision, and knows when to find open teammates or drive to the basket herself.

Currently, Astier ranks fourth among rookies in scoring, averaging 11.8 points per game, and is also third in assists, with 3.6 per game, and fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.35. Her shooting percentage is impressive too—59.8%, the highest among first-year players with a minimum of seven games played. In her first 11 games alone, 10 of her 20 successful attempts were 3-pointers.

Jones commented on Astier’s maturity, stating, “She’s a great 3-point shooter. If we encourage her more and let her know it’s okay to take those shots, I believe she’ll step into those opportunities confidently and perform at a high level.”

The Liberty is set to travel to Connecticut on Monday for two road games. This will be their second meeting with the Sun this season; in their first matchup, Astier scored five points, recorded four assists, and had two rebounds.

Since that game, Astier has consistently showcased her growth and earned the trust of team leaders like Jones and Brianna Stewart. “I feel really happy because they trust me,” Astier expressed. “I’m thrilled to be part of this team.”