Though the former Northwestern star graduated years ago, her name is still mentioned frequently in today's Northwestern sports conversation.

When WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert called Veronica Burton's name in the 2022 WNBA Draft, Burton — who had certified herself as an all-time Northwestern star — elevated her stardom as the seventh overall pick selected by the Dallas Wings, following Nia Coffey's fifth pick five years earlier. That moment was clipped into the Northwestern women's basketball team's pregame promo video, displaying the program's pride that the current Wildcats might spend years to replicate.

Now, Burton has become a fan favorite who helped the expansion Golden State Valkyries clinch a playoff berth in their inaugural season last year. All the spotlight follows struggles over the previous three years, including being cut by the Wings in 2024 and limited opportunities with the Connecticut Sun, her second team, before being drafted by the Valkyries in the expansion draft.

With renewed confidence, Burton gears up for the new season.

Despite the limited sample size, Burton is showing promising early returns.

After last season's redemption following years of disappointment, Burton kept the momentum rolling and was selected to ESPN's top 50 ranking heading into the 2026 season at No. 35 before the season started last week. While Golden State cruises with two opening wins, Burton is averaging 14.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 2.5 steals while shooting 33.3% from three-point range. She has recorded only one turnover so far.

The stats tell a straightforward message: versatility. During her time at Northwestern, she honed that comprehensive basketball skillset under former coach Joe McKeown. As a freshman, she immediately earned a starting role in 31 games and stuffed every category of the stat sheet: 8.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.6 steals while shooting a career-high 36.8% from three. That season, the Wildcats wrapped up a winning campaign in the WNIT Championship after losing to Arizona.

That versatility and defensive hustle defined her three years as a Wildcat, earning her three Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year awards. With Burton on the roster, the Wildcats remained competitive in a high-major conference, posting a program-best 26-4 season before the postseason was shut down due to COVID-19 and reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2020-21. Burton deserves significant credit for the program's prime years in recent memory.

After years of disappointment and hurdles, Burton brought her versatility back. Filled with an energetic team environment and the drive to prove herself, Burton broke out last season with the emerging West Coast franchise under coach Natalie Nakase, surging to double-digit scoring with 11.9 points alongside 6.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game. She was the only Valkyries player to start all 44 regular-season games and shouldered even greater responsibilities when the Valkyries lost Kayla Thornton to a season-ending knee injury in July 2025. After the season, she won her first two WNBA awards: Most Improved Player and All-Defensive Second Team.

The Valkyries, entering their second year, look poised for a deeper playoff run after adding 2025 WNBA All-Star Gabby Williams to pair with solid returners like Janelle Salaun and a healthy Thornton. After resigning a three-year contract with the team, Burton is also expected to grow amid this elite group, particularly as the team's floor general and defensive anchor. Her leadership and playoff experience from last season now position her as a cornerstone piece for Golden State.

Burton shared on The Athletic's women's basketball show "No Offseason" that what changed was her confidence. After winning a WNBL championship with the Bendigo Spirit in Australia and showing flashes with Mist BC in the inaugural Unrivaled season, Burton is poised to carry all that offseason momentum into the new season as a better version of herself — one who wasn't in the top-player conversation just a year ago.