Pauline Astier added another chapter to an already impressive rookie season on August 3, and she did it in front of the 67th United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. As the New York Liberty added another win to reach 18-13 at home against the Seattle Storm, the French rookie etched her name into franchise history.

Astier finished the game with 12 points on 4-5 shooting and two assists, officially becoming the first rookie in Liberty history to hit 300 points and 100 assists in the same season.

The former First Lady was seated next to team owner Clara Wu Tsai when Astier set the franchise benchmark. Astier got her start as a rotation player in 2019 on Tango Bourges Basket and then USK Praha (2025) in Europe, eventually leading her team to the EuroLeague title in 2025-26.

Following that, she had an explosive FIBA Europe Supercup, becoming MVP of the exhibition after scoring 17 points and dishing out 15 dimes. That’s what impressed the Liberty, who saw her play firsthand in training camp and immediately signed her for the opening-day roster.

Since then, she has been a solid option for the team, starting 26 of her 31 games and averaging 9.8 points and 3.5 assists in the backcourt with Sabrina Ionescu.

Meanwhile, the WNBA also highlighted Clinton making an appearance on their X account. “An iconic linkup. Satou Sabally and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton share a postgame moment in Brooklyn!”

The Liberty also posted a video where Pauline Astier’s teammate Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, and others posed for pictures and had conversations with Clinton.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr also made an appearance in the Liberty locker room to celebrate the win when Clinton implored him to give the team an inspiring speech.

“Last time I was in a locker room was with the Chicago Bulls he was there… You should say something,” Clinton told Kerr, and he kept it short, simply adding an energetic “let’s f****** go” and then led a huddle that broke on cheers of “together.”

While Pauline Astier set a new franchise record and Clinton’s presence was the highlight of the night, the Liberty’s veterans orchestrated the win.

Pauline Astier’s Milestone Comes in Convincing Liberty Victory Led by Big 3

Breanna Stewart led the team with 24 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, while Jonquel Jones added 20 points and seven rebounds as the Storm fell, 95-83.

Sabrina Ionescu had trouble passing the ball, logging just as many assists as turnovers, but still walked away with a solid scoring output with 18 points and went 7-for-10 on field goals.

The Liberty dominated the game from tipoff, never trailing after a blistering first quarter. Ionescu fueled that rally, helping New York increase their lead to 17 on a hot shooting night, and finished the game with 18 points.

The Storm did their best, cutting the lead to just three in the third quarter, but New York responded with a strong 9-0 run behind Stewart, Marine Johannes, and Rebekah Gardner to regain control.

Astier made her presence felt on the floor, being the fourth leading scorer behind the Big 3 as the team shot 50% from the field and knocked down 14 threes.

For Seattle, rookie Flau’jae Johnson recorded a game-high 25 points, but it wasn’t enough, as the Storm suffered their ninth loss in a row, and the Liberty strengthened their spot in the playoffs.

This win was also crucial for the Liberty for more than one reason. They lost a close game with the Las Vegas Aces after a controversial call by the official in a play involving A’ja Wilson. Shortly after the loss, owners Clara Wu Tsai and Joe Tsai announced their separation after 30 years of marriage.