If anything, the Golden State Valkyries are having one of the most iconic debut seasons in the league. Despite sitting halfway through the charts, the Bay Area team has its performances improving with each game. And thanks in large part to Veronica Burton for it.
During the Wednesday night game against the Washington Mystics, the star point guard really showed up on the business. Burton guided the team to a close 88-83 victory over the Mystics, yet she didn’t want to take all the credit.
Veronica Burton Credits Teammates After Career Game
The Valkyries are amped up with their winning streak after clutching the last three games, all with good margins against strong opponents. However, Burton came shining in on two out of the three occasions. While keeping the same level of performance, she dished out a career high of 30 points in the last game.
The game, a nail-biter that saw the Valkyries nearly lose a 25-point lead, had the young guard’s growth showing up to make a great case for the Most Improved Player award. Yet, in true team-player fashion, she deflected the spotlight and gave it all to her teammates for her historic night.
“It feels good ultimately. It’s definitely a confidence thing, a rhythm thing. I feel like it’s been our whole team, honestly, the way we’ve been moving the ball. You know it’s gonna find you, it’s going to find you in rhythm, and it finds us typically where we like it. And so, at least for me, that’s been helpful in terms of getting good looks. It’s high-quality shots and letting them fly when they come our way,” Burton said after the game (via ClutchPoints).
Veronica Burton should be the number 1 pick for MOST IMPROVED PLAYER.
— perennial losers cant be helped (@bueckersmiddy) August 14, 2025
2024: 3.1 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 1.9 APG
2025: 11.3 PG, 4.3 RPG, 5.2 APG
LEADS the Valkyries and is NINTH in the WNBA in APG pic.twitter.com/gnW8t1jXLy
However, despite not accepting all the due credit for her career game, she had shots coming like crazy. The Massachusetts-born hit 10 of 13 shots, including six 3-pointers, while adding seven rebounds and seven assists.
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Her stat line was so remarkable that it placed her among WNBA greats like Napheesa Collier and Sabrina Ionescu. She became just the third player in league history to record 30 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists on at least 75% shooting.
Veronica Burton Earns Praise From Natalie Nakase
While she kept no bolts loose in performing at full throttle, coach Natalie Nakase was all praise for the star performer.
“Oh man, almost now want to cry… That’s amazing. It just goes back to training camp. When she wanted to come early. And just her sacrifice of not really hanging out with her friends and family… [There] hasn’t been an off-day where she’s texting me. ‘Can I get into the gym early?’ So I just think a lot of it has to do with her work ethic. Her heart. Her sacrifice of doing other things, other than just [being] focused on basketball,” Nakase said.
Natalie Nakase’s reaction to that stat pull by Rob Knox of The Next:
— Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) August 14, 2025
“Oh man, almost now want to cry… That's amazing. I think it just goes back to, training camp when she wanted to come early, her sacrifice of not really hanging out with her friends and family.” https://t.co/DLnhWznaPo
Additionally, the Bay Area team’s offense was clicking. The team sank 15 of 32 three-pointers, which makes for a whopping 46.9%, also a franchise record. Forward Cecilia Zandalasini complemented Burton’s outburst with 20 points, including six 3s of her own.