Thursday's Sparks vs Liberty matchup nearly delivered a WNBA record no team wants. The New York Liberty watched a 28-point lead shrink to three, almost allowing LA the largest comeback in league history.
Then coach Chris DeMarco pulled rookie Pauline Astier off the bench, and New York managed to hold on to secure the 85-81 win.
Pauline Astier Sparks NY Liberty Win Off the Bench
The 24-year-old French guard checked in during the second quarter and shifted the tempo of the game almost immediately. Over five minutes, she logged 7 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound, and 1 steal on 3-of-4 shooting. Her plus-9 helped push the NY Liberty to a 17-point halftime lead.
But the Sparks refused to go quietly. A 40-point fourth quarter trimmed the deficit to a single possession as Rae Burrell powered LA's comeback with a career high 28 points, 20 of which she scored in the fourth quarter. Cameron Brink also showed up for the Sparks, notching 7 rebounds and 3 blocks before a hard foul from Breanna Stewart took her out of the game in its waning minutes.
With the win slipping away for the Liberty, DeMarco went back to Astier late and left her on the floor for the final stretch. She didn't score again, but her defensive effort helped New York edge LA.
Where to Watch WNBA Games This Weekend
The Liberty improved to 21-14 with the win, securing sixth place in the WNBA standings as New York readies its postseason push. They'll next face the Connecticut Sun on Saturday at 1 PM ET on WNBA League pass.
The Sparks, meanwhile, face the Washington Mystics on Saturday at 7:30 PM ET, live on WNBA League Pass.
