For most WNBA fans, the New York Liberty is best known for its Big Three and an experienced squad. But in their recent win over the Atlanta Dream, the narrative flipped. A 24-year-old rookie, Pauline Astier, drew all eyes from the fans with a stellar buzzer-beater.

The play occurred in the second quarter and just before the halftime buzzer. The NY Liberty was already in a comfortable spot with a 4-point lead. But with just a fraction of seconds remaining in the quarter, Astier received a pass from Breanna Stewart near halfcourt near the halfcourt.She launched the ball from there for a 53-foot buzzer beater. It eventually went in as her teammates hugged her in elation. The WNBA took to their Instagram handle to share this sequence of play with a fitting caption.

“OH MY PAULINE,” the caption read. “The rookie Pauline Astier launches from half court and beats the halftime buzzer, sending the @nyliberty into the break with a 51-44 lead.”

The shot gave the NY Liberty an extra cushion going into halftime. But even if the shot hadn’t gone in, the sheer audacity of Astier to attempt a shot from that distance, despite being a rookie, is just commendable. And to be honest, that isn’t just self-confidence.

Instead, it’s the mastery that she holds in her art. Astier isn’t just a rookie who suddenly broke out in the spotlight. The French guard has strived tirelessly for years while playing for the Tango Bourges Basket and USK Praha. And upon her arrival in the WNBA, those years are definitely paying off.

Pauline Astier is scoring 56.7% from the field and 47.6% from deep. In free throws, she stands out as well, with 77.4% made shots. This elite three-level scoring makes her a force to reckon with for the other teams. New York Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco had also shed some light on Astier’s sheer confidence.

“When you’re watching those international games… what would jump out is that she’s constantly in the paint. Whether it’s confidence or what she does best offensively, she’s doing it at this level, too,” DeMarco said, as per beat reporter Myles Ehrlich.

While Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones will take most of the spotlight against the Atlanta Dream for their double-doubles, Astier’s stat line can’t be overlooked as well.

Overall, Pauline Astier delivered a great performance. The rookie logged 26 minutes, recording 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists with a plus-minus of +6 to cap off a 104-90 win. She scored 60% from the field while connecting 1 of 2 from deep.

The Atlanta Dream didn’t allow Pauline Astier to cut loose for being a rookie as well. Instead, Astier faced the uncomfortable side of the competition with Angel Reese, showing her the “too small” gesture in the fourth quarter. Irrespective of that, Astier kept her poise and didn’t flinch.

It showcases the rookie’s mentality in handling a pressure situation and suggests why she should be touted even more this season.

Pauline Astier Can Make a Plausible Case for the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year Award

The majority of the predictions around this season’s WNBA Rookie of the Year case drift towards, and rightly so, Olivia Miles. The Minnesota Lynx have been on a record-breaking spree ever since she set foot in the league, bending defenses at her own will and averaging 17+ points, 5+ assists, and 5+ rebounds.

Considering these numbers, there isn’t much to argue Miles’ case. But going forward into the season, Pauline Astier seems to be writing her own script as well. The Liberty guard has already established herself as a starter on the team. Sabrina Ionescu’s persistent injury has helped her secure a spot in the starting five.

She has capitalized on it perfectly, averaging 11.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, and 3.8 apg, as per WNBA.com. In fact, Astier is also tied with Miles for most games (3) as a rookie with 15+ points, 5+ assists, and 5+ rebounds. while shooting 60% from the field, as per a NY Liberty fan page @LibertyMusee.

The stat line is as impressive as it gets. But the one thing the 24-year-old French guard needs to work on is her consistency. We have seen this season quite a few times when Astier seemed to forget how to score.

For instance, in Liberty’s last game against Connecticut, she scored just 6 points in 26 minutes. She went 2 of 8 from the field. Nevertheless, if Pauline Astier can continue to produce more performances like the one she did against Atlanta, she will definitely get a firm shoutout for the WNBA’s ROTY.

For now, Astier continues her season, with Liberty’s next game against Washington at the Barclays Center on June 14.