Liberty signing Rebecca Allen, Pauline Astier as focus shifts in free agency
The Liberty had a busy first weekend of free agency.They started with recruiting Satou Sabally to join Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones to solidify a big, skilled starting lineup that should also include Leonie Fiebich or Betnijah Laney-Hamilton.Now, general manager Jonathan Kolb has shifted his focus to fortifying the bench as the Liberty ready themselves for what they hope will be another championship run.The Liberty signed wing Rebecca Allen and French point guard Pauline Astier to one-year contracts, a source confirmed Monday.Allen, who a source said is signing a deal for $350,000 (slightly above the league minimum), spent the first seven seasons of her WNBA career with the Liberty and described New York as “home” on a recent podcast.She’s a strong defender and is a career 35.5 percent shooter from behind the arc.Allen, 32, spent the past three years with the Connecticut Sun, Phoenix Mercury and Chicago Sky, respectively.Last season with the Sky, she played in all 44 games with 17 starts.
She averaged 5.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and a career-best 1.3 assists.Allen’s signing does bring into question Rebekah Gardner’s future in New York.The Liberty extended Gardner a reserved qualifying offer last week, and Gardner told The Post in February that she planned to return to Brooklyn this season.She’s an athletic wing who can do a little bit of everything, including slash and play suffocating defense – all traits that the Liberty’s brass value.But Gardner is turning 36 this summer.Last season, her role fluctuated, which she admitted wasn’t easy.
Allen is another player Gardner would be competing with for minutes.If she wants more consistent playing time, might she request a trade?Meanwhile, Astier, 24, is one of the best European prospects and was highly sought after by WNBA teams, including the Indiana Fever, Minnesota Lynx, Washington Mystics, Toronto Tempo and Sun.Ultimately, she chose to sign with the Liberty on a rookie minimum, ...