Former Northwestern star Veronica Burton continues to make history in the WNBA. After recording 13 assists and zero turnovers against the Liberty, Burton now has five games with 10-plus assists and zero turnovers, trailing only WNBA legend Sue Bird.
Former Northwestern star Veronica Burton continues to make her mark in the WNBA, and her latest performance put her in some impressive company.
Burton recorded 13 assists without committing a turnover in the Golden State Valkyries' win over the New York Liberty, helping lead her team to another important victory while making WNBA history in the process.
With the performance, Burton moved into sole possession of second place for the most games with at least 10 assists and zero turnovers in WNBA history. She now has five such games, trailing only WNBA legend Sue Bird, who accomplished the feat seven times.
The accomplishment is even more impressive considering how difficult it is to consistently create opportunities for teammates while avoiding turnovers.
Burton was able to control the game as a facilitator without giving the Liberty an extra possession, showcasing the decision-making and passing ability that have become major parts of her professional game.
That type of playmaking ability is nothing new for Burton.
During her senior season at Northwestern in 2021-22, Burton averaged 17.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.4 assists while leading the country with 4.0 steals per game. She finished her Northwestern career averaging 13.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists across 115 games.
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 Jpg Burton's ability to impact games in multiple ways was one of the biggest reasons she became the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft. She was also a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and became Northwestern's first AP All-American.
While her defense helped make her one of the nation's best players in college, Burton's passing and ability to create for others have continued to develop at the professional level.
She has now shown that she can consistently make an impact against the best competition the WNBA has to offer.
Burton had a breakout 2025 season with the Golden State Valkyries, averaging 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and a team-high 6.0 assists while earning WNBA Most Improved Player and All-Defensive Second Team honors.
Her latest performance is another reminder of how far Burton has come since her days in Evanston.
She went from becoming one of the best defensive guards in college basketball to a first-round WNBA draft pick and now one of the league's most productive playmakers. Doing it against a team like the Liberty makes the performance even more notable.
For Northwestern fans, it has been great to watch one of the program's former stars continue to succeed at the highest level while adding her name to the WNBA record book.
Burton now has five games with at least 10 assists and zero turnovers, putting her within two of Bird's record. At just 26 years old, Burton still has plenty of time to climb that list even higher.
