Ex-Wildcat Veronica Burton on fire in WNBA, making history in Valkyries’ first season

Sarah Barber

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Ex-Wildcat Veronica Burton on fire in WNBA, making history in Valkyries’ first season image

Before Sunday night’s game against the Dallas Wings, Valkyries’ head coach Natalie Nakase told Veronica Burton they would likely need her on the court for the full 40 minutes.

The point guard didn’t hesitate. 

“Whatever you need, whatever it takes to win that, like, I'll do it,” Nakase recalled Burton responding, during Sunday’s postgame press conference.

She didn’t hesitate on the court either. Burton was on fire: recording 25 points, 13 assists, five rebounds and four blocks as Golden State bested Dallas, 90-81. The point guard is the first player in WNBA history to record the impressive in-game stat line. 

 

 

 

The head coach credited the point guard’s mental toughness:

“She's able to push through that fatigue, through all the bumps, and sometimes she's getting bumped. It wasn't getting called most of the time. Sometimes she gets frustrated, but she hung in there,” Nakase said. “Her mental toughness to stay calm, collective and composed for the team, because at the same time, I'm yelling at her, ‘hey, now we got to run this, run that.’ So just the demands and commands I'm asking her to do while she's taking a heavy load on the offense, while she's taking a heavy load on the defense.”

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Not only did Burton impress Sunday, the performance was her second double-double of the week. In the Valkyries’ Tuesday loss to the Phoenix Mercury (98-91), Burton tallied 24 points and 14 assists. 

“She's probably one of the toughest players I ever coached,” Nakase said. “I couldn't ask for a better point guard right now. I think she's really, truly, a big part of you know why we're winning. And I said she's our heartbeat, but she's also our leader. She's our solid leader right now.”

Sarah Barber

Sarah Barber is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. She is wrapping up an MS in journalism with a specialization in sports media from Northwestern’s Medill School. Barber graduated from Northeastern University in 2024 with a degree in journalism and English, plus a double minor in public relations and sports, media and communication. She spent over two years as a sports correspondent for The Boston Globe and has a background in athletic video production.