Marine Fauthoux delivered a crucial seven-point lead for the New York Liberty with 32.7 seconds remaining in their 113-109 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday, sinking both free throws after an apparent remark from Sparks guard Erica Wheeler.
"The more you talk to me, the more I'm confident," Fauthoux told The Post following the game. "So I was so happy she talked to me because I was sure I will make it."
Fauthoux's performance marked another solid outing for the developmental player, who has reached double-figure scoring in two of her last three games. She scored a career-high 13 points against the Sparks, with 10 of those coming in the decisive fourth quarter.
Her emergence comes as fellow French guard Pauline Astier has shown signs of a rookie slump. Astier, who was a bright spot earlier in the season, has not scored 10 points since July 12 and has been looking forward to the All-Star break for a respite from her first year of year-round play.
With Astier experiencing a dip in form, Fauthoux has become an increasingly important option in the Liberty's backcourt rotation. However, she has played in only seven of her allotted 12 developmental player games. To keep her for the long term and make her available for the playoffs, the Liberty would need to convert her to a standard contract, which would require parting ways with at least one player to free up a roster spot.
Rebekah Gardner expressed her admiration for Fauthoux, who began the season rehabilitating from a knee injury. "She's been ready for her opportunities and showing out," Gardner said. "Have you seen her play overseas? This is how she plays. So it's exciting to see her come into the WNBA and step right into it even as a developmental player where you're maybe not always getting the same reps and rhythm as everybody else. I feel like it's pretty awesome that she just came in and done that."
Gardner also led the Liberty's bench, which outscored the Sparks' reserves 41-19, marking the most points the team's bench has scored in a game since the season's second contest. The Liberty have faced challenges with depth due to injuries this season, and games like Tuesday's win can significantly boost the team's confidence, according to Gardner.
"These types of games are what will help us later on down the line … where the bench is getting that experience," she said. "We always talk about the bench [and] the better we do, the easier it is for the starters, too."