Former Northwestern Star Continues to Shine for Golden State Valkyries

Former Northwestern star Veronica Burton continues to make her presence felt in the WNBA, putting together an impressive stretch since the All-Star break.

Burton has continued to contribute in nearly every area of the game for the Golden State Valkyries, establishing herself as one of the team's most dependable all-around guards.

Her latest performance was another example.

Burton scored 22 points, dished out seven assists and grabbed four rebounds as the Valkyries defeated the Dallas Wings 94-76 on the road Friday night. She shot 8-of-13 from the field, knocked down three 3-pointers and went a perfect 3-of-3 from the free-throw line while adding a steal.

It was the latest standout performance in what has been an impressive stretch for Burton following the WNBA All-Star break.

Burton Doing It All After the All-Star Break

Since the All-Star break, Burton has consistently found ways to impact games even when her scoring numbers have varied.

In four games, Burton has recorded 66 points, 17 assists and 17 rebounds while shooting 22-of-42 from the field. She has also connected on nine 3-pointers during that stretch.

Her recent stretch includes victories over the Toronto Tempo and Dallas Wings, along with a narrow 91-89 loss to the Phoenix Mercury.

Against Phoenix on July 29, Burton scored 15 points, grabbed three rebounds and added five assists while shooting 6-of-10 from the field and 2-of-5 from 3-point range.

She followed that performance with back-to-back strong outings against Toronto.

On Aug. 2, Burton scored 17 points, grabbed two rebounds and recorded six assists in a 96-79 victory. She was particularly efficient from beyond the arc, making three of her four attempts from 3-point range.

Two days later, Burton continued filling the stat sheet despite struggling from the field. She finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in a 92-81 victory over Toronto.

That ability to impact the game even when her shot isn't falling has become one of Burton's biggest strengths.

More Than Just a Scorer

Burton's recent stretch highlights why she has become such a valuable player for Golden State.

The former point guard has never been reliant solely on scoring to make an impact. Her ability to create for teammates, defend, rebound and knock down timely shots allows her to contribute in multiple ways.

Friday's performance against Dallas was perhaps the clearest example of that versatility.

Burton finished with 22 points while also recording seven assists and four rebounds. She also shot better than 60% from the field and made 42.9% of her attempts from 3-point range.

For a team competing near the top of the WNBA standings, having a guard capable of consistently filling multiple roles is an enormous advantage.

Burton has also shown that she can take over offensively when needed.

Her 22-point performance against Dallas marked her highest scoring total of this recent stretch, but it didn't come at the expense of her playmaking. She continued to find teammates and help control the game from the backcourt.

Burton's success is also another major accomplishment for Northwestern women's basketball.

Before becoming a professional, Burton established herself as one of the best defensive guards in college basketball during her time in Evanston.

She became known for her defensive instincts, toughness and ability to impact games beyond the scoring column, ultimately becoming one of the most accomplished players in Northwestern history.

That same well-rounded approach has followed her into the WNBA.

Burton was selected by the Dallas Wings with the seventh overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft before eventually joining Golden State, where she has continued developing into a reliable professional guard.

Her journey is another example of a Northwestern player making an impact at the highest level of women's basketball.

From her defensive dominance with the Wildcats to becoming an important contributor for one of the WNBA's top teams, Burton has continued to build on the foundation she established in Evanston.

The timing of Burton's recent production could not be better for the Valkyries.

With Golden State continuing to compete for a strong postseason position, every game becomes increasingly important as the regular season moves toward its final stretch.

Burton's ability to consistently contribute could become even more valuable as the Valkyries pursue a deep playoff run.

Whether it is scoring 22 points, creating seven assists, grabbing eight rebounds or making an impact defensively, Burton continues to find ways to help her team win.

That consistency is what makes her recent stretch so impressive.

She isn't simply having one standout game. Burton is repeatedly finding ways to influence games in different ways and give Golden State another reliable option in the backcourt.

For Northwestern, it is another reason to be proud of one of its former stars.

For Burton, the goal is much bigger.

With the Valkyries competing among the WNBA's best, the former Wildcat will look to carry her recent momentum into the final stretch of the season and help Golden State make a deep postseason run.

If her performances since the All-Star break are any indication, Burton is more than ready for the challenge.