Former Northwestern standout Veronica Burton scored 21 points in Golden State's win over Atlanta, continuing the best season of her WNBA career while strengthening her case for a 2026 All-Star reserve selection.
Former Northwestern standout Veronica Burton continued her outstanding 2026 WNBA season with one of her best performances of the year in the Golden State Valkyries' victory over the Atlanta Dream.
Burton finished with 21 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds, shooting an efficient 6-of-9 from the field, 2-of-3 from beyond the arc and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. The performance was another example of Burton's continued growth as she builds on last season's WNBA Most Improved Player campaign.
The strong outing adds to what has already been a career-best season. Through the first half of the year, Burton is averaging 12.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game, emerging as one of Golden State's primary playmakers while taking on a much larger offensive role than in previous seasons.
Her latest performance also reflects the continued growth that began last season.
Burton earned the WNBA's Most Improved Player Award in 2025, recognizing the significant strides she made after carving out a larger role at the professional level. Rather than slowing down after receiving that honor, she has continued building on that momentum throughout 2026, becoming one of the league's most reliable two-way guards.
That development should come as no surprise to Northwestern fans.
Burton finished her collegiate career as one of the greatest players in Northwestern history. During her time in Evanston, she established herself as one of the nation's top two-way guards, earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors and First-Team All-Big Ten recognition during the 2020-21 season.
She also became known for her exceptional court vision, relentless defense and ability to impact every aspect of the game. Burton helped lead the Wildcats to an NCAA Tournament appearance while earning multiple All-America honors before being selected seventh overall in the 2022 WNBA Draft.
Although her defense first earned national attention, Burton has steadily expanded her offensive game since entering the WNBA. Her improved scoring efficiency, perimeter shooting and ability to control the pace of games have made her an increasingly valuable piece for Golden State.
Northwestern guard Veronica Burton (12) gets a steal against Iowa guard Tomi Taiwo (1) during a NCAA Big Ten Conference women's basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. 220106 N Western Iowa Wbb 033 JpgHer recent play has also strengthened her case for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game.
While Burton was not selected as a starter through fan voting, she remains eligible to earn a reserve spot when the league's head coaches make their selections. Given her production, efficiency and impact on both ends of the floor, Burton has positioned herself as a legitimate candidate to earn one of the remaining reserve spots.
Whether or not she ultimately earns an All-Star selection, Burton continues proving she belongs among the league's rising stars.
For Northwestern, her continued success serves as another reminder of the program's ability to develop elite talent capable of thriving at the professional level. As Burton continues putting together the best season of her career, Wildcats fans have another reason to celebrate one of the greatest players ever to wear purple.
