Rebecca Allen’s Development Shines for the Liberty

TORONTO — It seems like Rebecca Allen’s patience is truly starting to pay off.

At the beginning of the season, she was struggling to find her place in the lineup, but now she’s stepped into a starting role due to Leonie Fiebich’s injury.

This month as a starter has really helped her settle in. With each game, her confidence has been building, allowing her to get more comfortable with how the team plays.

The numbers reflect her progress. Over the last 15 games, Allen is averaging two three-pointers, shooting an impressive 50.8 percent from beyond the arc.

She seemed pleased to hear this statistic when a reporter mentioned it after the Liberty’s resounding 106-69 victory over the Toronto Tempo on Sunday.

“I’ve just tried to stay true to the process of it all,” Allen remarked. “I guess, for me, not much has really changed since the beginning. I’m simply trying to keep a cool head and remain calm. Plus, you start to get more comfortable with the offense, which makes you more patient out there. So that’s been important for me. But it’s nice to hear about that percentage.”

In Toronto, Allen provided a significant boost off the bench, hitting four out of seven three-point attempts to end the game with 14 points.

As the playoffs approach, the team’s rotation could tighten, yet Allen has made her mark by focusing on defense and delivering timely three-point shots.

“She’s really important for us,” said Pauline Astier, highlighting Allen’s contributions. “She consistently makes an impact whenever she’s on the court. We really need her—everyone on this team.”

The Liberty’s offense was firing on all cylinders on Sunday.

They tallied up 29 assists on 39 field goals and made 16 three-pointers.

Astier attributed this success to recent improvements in the team’s defense.

“We’ve been playing better defense,” she commented when asked about their fluid ball movement. “We’re more cohesive, covering gaps better, which gives us freedom on offense.”

On the other hand, Ionescu, who has occasionally struggled this season due to a lingering back injury, had a tough outing in Toronto.

She missed all seven of her shots in the first half. Despite her shooting woes, she contributed in other ways, finishing the game with nine assists. Had Astier converted a layup, Ionescu might have hit the ten-assist mark.

Meanwhile, Astier was surprised to learn she recorded nine rebounds, a new career high, surpassing her previous record of eight, which she achieved in a game against Atlanta in mid-June.

“Oh, really? I didn’t even notice,” Astier said, who also scored 10 points and dished out three assists. “I just figured, ‘OK, the ball came my way.’”