Pauline Astier is proving to be what Liberty have long needed for Sabrina Ionescu
Rookie guard Pauline Astier had been on Chris DeMarco’s radar since he took the Liberty job. He watched about 20 of her games with Turkish club USK Praha, believing she’d complement the style he wanted the Liberty to adopt.Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA.
He liked Astier’s decisiveness and floor vision.Her ability to quickly get downhill, to catch and shoot.
Her growing confidence every time she stepped foot on the court.Then, he got to know Astier when she arrived in Brooklyn.The way she’s excited for her teammates and shares the ball.She defends and does all the little things a coach could ask for.
When she’s on the bench, she’s cheering for every basket or stop.“You love to coach a player like that who’s just an awesome teammate and makes people around her better,” DeMarco said Monday.For years, Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb has been searching for an ideal running mate for Sabrina Ionescu. It turns out the answer may have been hidden in a bustling town in southwest France this entire time.There have been different backcourt combinations over the years, each showing flashes of promise but also having limitations.Marine Johannes brought creativity, flair and firepower on offense.Courtney Vandersloot supplied championship experience, elite playmaking and stability.
Natasha Cloud added defensive intensity and toughness.Crystal Dangerfield had a stint at one point, too.None of those pairings were seamless.After last year’s first-round playoff exit, Kolb said he planned to evaluate Ionescu’s best backcourt partner.Ionescu’s recent renaissance alongside Astier might be the solution.It took some time for Ionescu and Astier to develop their chemistry after Ionescu missed the majority of the first five weeks of the season with injuries.
But the budding connection between the two is growing every time they share the floor.“H...