The Golden State Valkyries put together another defensive masterclass against the New York Liberty, holding them to a season-low 60 points. While the Valkyries completely shut down the Liberty’s offense, Veronica Burton put together an impressive offensive display.
She scored just eight points, but she also finished the game with 13 assists and zero turnovers. It’s her fifth career game with at least 10 assists and zero turnovers—and the second this season. Sue Bird is the only player in WNBA history who has recorded more, with seven games. Burton surpassed Courtney Vandersloot, Dawn Staley, and Ticha Penicheiro, who did it four times each. That’s point guard royalty.
Burton spent the first three seasons of her career fighting for minutes off the bench. This is just her second season in a steady, big role. Burton is just getting started, but she clearly belongs in the conversation of the best point guards in the WNBA at the moment.
“She’s growing into one of the best point guards in the league,” Natalie Nakase said after the win over New York, per a recording of the postgame press conference on the Valkyries’ YouTube channel.
The numbers outside of last night’s win back it up, too. Out of the fifteen players averaging at least five assists per game, only four average fewer than two turnovers—and no one averages fewer than Burton. Moreover, Burton orchestrates the offense for the second-best team in the standings, and she is one of the best guard defenders in the game. She may not put up 20 points every game like some other guards, but she steadily and efficiently impacts winning on both ends of the floor.
Veronica Burton has been great this season
Last year, Burton went from being a 12-minute-per-game backup to a full-time starter who plays 30 minutes per game. It was an adjustment. Burton shot just 38.7% from the field. Despite a higher number of field-goal attempts her efficiency has improved to a career-high 43.3% from the field and 36.8% from deep. She’s also averaging a career-high 12.4 points, as well as 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.5 steals.
Burnt is the Valkyries’ third-leading scorer and leader in assists and free-throw attempts. The Valkyries would not have a 28-11 record without Burton, and their chances of a successful playoff run depend heavily on her ability to smoothly orchestrate the offense, defend the best guards in the game, and add scoring behind Gabby Williams and Janelle Salaün.
With the influx of great young guards, it’s easy for Burton to get lost in the shuffle, but she deserves a ton of respect for the season she’s putting together.
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