Reading defenses, analyzing her teammates’ positioning, and understanding their tendencies; these are the things Veronica Burton has excelled at this season. Drafted 7th overall by the Dallas Wings in 2022, Burton is now finding her rhythm with the Valkyries. She burst onto the scene with career highs of 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game–a massive leap from last year’s 3.1 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.5 steals with the Connecticut Sun. For her exploits this season, she received a unique honor: The WNBA’s Most Improved Player award.

A lot of the credit goes to her coach, Natalie Nakase, a former point guard, whose guidance has helped Burton firmly establish herself as one of the breakout stars of the season. “The element of trust that my coach has in me,” Burton had said, “It instilled in me just a different type of confidence. … I think that’s every point guard’s dream. And it challenges me in a way that I haven’t been challenged before. But I love it. Every part about it. I’ve wanted it, and I’m just grateful to have it right now.”

Burton deservedly took home the KIA Most Improved Player award, earning 68 of 72 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Journalist Sara Jane Gamelli, who revealed she voted for Burton herself, also shared that the guard will receive a $5,150 prize for her outstanding season. According to the WNBA announcement, this definitely checks out as she will also receive a trophy designed to commemorate her achievement after beating out the likes of Azura Stevens, Allisa Gray, and Natasha Hiedeman for the honor.

Burton’s journey to the Bay was anything but easy. After starring at Northwestern, she was drafted number 7 overall by Dallas in 2022 but spent two seasons coming off the bench, averaging just 14.5 minutes per game. The lowest point came three days before the 2024 season opener, when Dallas waived her, leaving her career hanging by a thread. “I can’t believe it,” she reportedly told her dad after getting the news, according to The Athletic.

Nearly a month later, Burton signed with Connecticut, but her opportunities remained limited. She averaged just 12.9 minutes per game for the title-contending Sun last season. While she showed flashes of her potential, it wasn’t enough to make her one of the six players Connecticut chose to protect from the expansion draft.

At Golden State, Burton has completely reinvented herself, bursting onto the scene after Kayla Thornton’s injury. But her season isn’t limited to just the stat sheet.

• She notched the first 30-point game of her career
• Before this season, she had never scored 20 or more points in a game in her career. This year, she’s done it six times
• Before this season, she had never recorded 10 or more assists in a game. This year, she’s done it eight times,
• She’s now averaging more points and assists per game this season than she ever has in her entire career combined
• She ranked third in the WNBA in assists per game and ninth in free-throw percentage

But for Burton, all the accolades won’t mean much if her playoff run comes to a premature end.

Can Veronica Burton inspire the Valkyries to a Game 2 win?

Veronica Burton was at the heart of the Valkyries’ remarkable debut season, helping the expansion team finish 23-21—a WNBA record for most wins by a first-year franchise. She also guided them to become the first expansion team in league history to make the playoffs. But the magic of the regular season hit a reality check in their very first postseason game, as the Minnesota Lynx delivered a harsh reminder of just how fierce the WNBA playoffs can be.

The Lynx ran away with Game 1, taking a 101-72 win. Burton had a solid outing with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals, but it just wasn’t enough. Now all eyes turn to the SAP Center, where the Valkyries will play Game 2 in front of what’s expected to be a sold-out crowd. It’s their chance to show they belong and fight back in the playoffs.

But that task will be near impossible without Veronica Burton shouldering a big part of the offense. Do you think she can lead the Valkyries to a Game 2 win in front of their home crowd? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.