{"id":195572,"date":"2025-09-03T01:38:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T01:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/195572\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T01:38:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T01:38:13","slug":"valkyries-veronica-burton-should-be-recognized-as-one-of-wnbas-elite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/195572\/","title":{"rendered":"Valkyries\u2019 Veronica Burton should be recognized as one of WNBA\u2019s elite"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN FRANCISCO \u2013 Veronica Burton<\/a> is many things for the Valkyries.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She is the reliable point guard who has started every game this season. The team\u2019s emotional leader. The versatile playmaker who leads the team in almost every significant statistical category.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If Valkyries<\/a> coaches and players get their wish, Burton, who has started all 39 games this season, will also be recognized as the WNBA\u2019s Most Improved Player.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"GoldenGolden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton (22) takes a shot against the Indiana Fever in the first quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

It would \u2013 or will \u2013 be a well-deserved award for a player who was, a year ago, an anonymous reserve in Connecticut.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But with the kind of tear the Northwestern product has been on since the All-Star break, it is fair to ask: Does just calling her \u201cmost improved\u201d sell her short as she leads the expansion team to a stunning run to the playoffs?<\/p>\n

Shouldn\u2019t Burton<\/a> also be in the running for one of the 10 coveted All-WNBA slots, awarded to the best players in the league?<\/p>\n

The competition for a spot on the team will be stiff.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Seven superstars \u2013 A\u2019ja Wilson of Las Vegas, Alyssa Thomas of Phoenix, Napheesa Collier of Minnesota, Nneka Ogwumike of Seattle, Allisha Gray of Atlanta and New York\u2019s Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu \u2013 are mortal locks to make the team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And then, among guards, Burton is competing with the likes of Wings rookie sensation Paige Bueckers (18,9 points, 5.3 assists per game), Sparks star Kelsey Plum (20.1 ppg), Minnesota\u2019s Courtney Williams (13.9 ppg, 6.3 apg) and Seattle\u2019s Skylar Diggins (15.7 ppg, 6.0 apg), all players with more impressive raw statistics.<\/p>\n

\"GoldenGolden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton (22) dribbles against the Phoenix Mercury in the first quarter of a WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 19, 2025. (Ray Chavez\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

But even with all of those factors working against Burton, should the Valkyries\u2019 floor general still be in the running for an All-WNBA spot?<\/p>\n

\u201cHell yeah,\u201d Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said, adding, \u201cShe\u2019s not just improved, she should be All-WNBA with the numbers she\u2019s putting up.\u201d<\/p>\n

After all, none of those other players are carrying an expansion team, one expected to reside in the cellar.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And, for those who are mathematically inclined, her numbers are still eye-catching.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Burton is still averaging 12 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists, and leads the team in almost every major statistical category. That also includes blocks (25), a staggering total for a 5-foot-9 guard.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cShe doesn\u2019t stop fighting. When she gets hit, she bounces back up,\u201d Nakase said. \u201cI\u2019m definitely on board with her being all-WNBA. She deserves it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"GoldenGolden State Valkyries Head Coach Natalie Nakase speaks to Veronica Burton on the sidelines in the second half against the Seattle Storm at the Chase Center in San Francisco, CA on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Don Feria for Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

As the starting lineup began to operate like a revolving door because of EuroBasket assignments, and remained so with injuries to other players, Burton has remained a steady presence, always making the correct decision at the top of the floor and on drives.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Her biggest games include a cool 30 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in a victory at Washington. A stellar 24-point, 14-assist output against Phoenix. An epic 25-point, 13-rebound, four-block performance against Dallas.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Her impressive statistics are not just a product of raw volume either.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since the All-Star break, Burton is shooting 44.4% from the field, 40.2% from behind the arc and 92.8% from the free-throw line.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had a coaching staff and teammates that instill a lot of confidence in me, and that goes a long way in terms of success on court, and so just a lot of work and repetition,\u201d Burton told the Bay Area News Group earlier this season. \u201cBut also just opportunity and trust as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burton has earned the trust of her teammates and made the most of her opportunity.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She isn\u2019t just a feel-good story anymore. Veronica Burton is one of the best players in the league.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"GoldenGolden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton (22) and Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper (2) struggle for a loose ball in the fourth quarter of a WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 19, 2025. (Ray Chavez\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SAN FRANCISCO \u2013 Veronica Burton is many things for the Valkyries.\u00a0 She is the reliable point guard who…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":195573,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[15172,1339,15173,276,15174,15175,2473,1362,4010,1370,1583,67210,15176,15177,1585,15178,15179,2750,15180,15181,15182,15183,15184,15185,15186,62,67,132,68,232],"class_list":{"0":"post-195572","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wnba","8":"tag-alameda-county","9":"tag-basketball","10":"tag-bay-area","11":"tag-california","12":"tag-contra-costa-county","13":"tag-east-bay","14":"tag-golden-state-valkyries","15":"tag-inside-sports","16":"tag-lake-county","17":"tag-latest-headlines","18":"tag-marin-county","19":"tag-mendocino-county","20":"tag-monterey-county","21":"tag-napa-county","22":"tag-north-bay","23":"tag-peninsula","24":"tag-san-benito-county","25":"tag-san-francisco","26":"tag-san-francisco-county","27":"tag-san-mateo-county","28":"tag-santa-clara-county","29":"tag-santa-cruz-county","30":"tag-solano-county","31":"tag-sonoma-county","32":"tag-south-bay","33":"tag-sports","34":"tag-united-states","35":"tag-unitedstates","36":"tag-us","37":"tag-wnba"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115137813611254491","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195572","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=195572"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195572\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/195573"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=195572"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=195572"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=195572"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}