Veronica Burton (basketball)

Veronica Grace Burton (born July 12, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Valkyries of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Bendigo Spirit of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She played college basketball at Northwestern. She was selected 7th overall in the 2022 WNBA draft by the Dallas Wings. She also represented the United States at the 2021 FIBA Women's AmeriCup and won a gold medal.^[1]

Veronica Burton

Burton with Northwestern in 2021
No. 6 – Bendigo Spirit
Position	Point guard
League	WNBL
Personal information
Born	(2000-07-12) July 12, 2000 (age 24) Newton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Listed height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Listed weight	155 lb (70 kg)
Career information
High school	Newton South (Newton, Massachusetts)
College	Northwestern (2018–2022)
WNBA draft	2022: 1st round, 7th overall pick
Selected by the Dallas Wings
Career history
2022–2023	Dallas Wings
2023–2024	AZS UMCS Lublin
2024	Connecticut Sun
2024–2025	Bendigo Spirit
2025–present	Golden State Valkyries
Career highlights and awards
All-WNBL Second Team (2025) WBCA Defensive Player of the Year (2022) Third-team All-American – AP (2022) 3× Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2020–2022) 2× First-team All-Big Ten (2021, 2022) Second-team All-Big Ten (2020) 3× Big Ten All-Defensive Team (2020–2022)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Medals Women's basketball Representing the  United States FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2021 Puerto Rico

College career

During the 2018–19 season, in her freshman year, she started 31 games and ranked first in the Big Ten in steals (81), second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4), and tied for sixteenth in assists per game (3.6). She also led the team in assists (113) and steals (81). During the 2019–20 season, in her sophomore year, she ranked first in the Big Ten in steals (100), second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4), fourth in assists (152) and free throw percentage (.793). She also led the team in assists, steals, and free throw percentage.^[2] Following an outstanding season, she was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team and named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.^[3]

During the 2020–21 season, in her junior year, she started 24 of 25 games and led the team in points (16.2), assists (4.9) and steals (3.8). Her 3.84 steals per game also led the NCAA.^[2] Following an outstanding season, she was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team, first-team All-Big Ten and named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.^[4]

On October 21, 2021, Burton was named captain for the 2021–22 season.^[5] During her senior year, she averaged 18 points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals per game. Before the NCAA Tournament, she led the nation in total steals and ranked second in steals per game. She also ranked in the top five nationally and led the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio, and ranked sixth nationally in assists per game. Her 117 steals were the third most in a season in Wildcat history and tied for the seventh most in a season in Big Ten history. Following an outstanding season, she was named a unanimous selection to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team and first-team All-Big Ten. She was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive year, joining Tanisha Wright as the only three-time winner.^[6] She was also named the WBCA Defensive Player of the Year and a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award.^[7] She was also named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press, and an honorable mention by USBWA.^[8] She became the first player in program history to be named to an AP All-America team.^[9]

On March 25, 2022, Burton renounced her extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic and declared for the 2022 WNBA draft.^[10] She finished her career second-all time in program history in steals with 394, and third all-time in Big Ten history. She also finished third in program history in career assists with 575.^[11]

Professional career

WNBA

Dallas Wings (2022–2023)

On April 11, 2022, Burton was drafted in the first round, 7th overall, by the Dallas Wings in the 2022 WNBA draft.^[12][13] On May 12, 2024, Burton was waived by the Wings. In two seasons with the Wings, she appeared in 76 regular season games, making 19 starts, while averaging 2.5 points and 2.1 assists per game.^[14]

Connecticut Sun (2024)

On June 5, 2024, Burton signed a rest of season contract with the Connecticut Sun for the 2024 WNBA season.^[15][16]

Golden State Valkyries (2025–present)

On December 6, 2024, Burton was selected as the Golden State Valkyries' pick from the Connecticut Sun's 2024 roster in the WNBA's expansion draft.^[17]

Overseas

Burton played for AZS UMCS Lublin in the 2023–2024 season.^[18]

Burton signed with the Bendigo Spirit for the 2024–25 WNBL season.^[19]

National team career

On June 6, 2021, Burton was named to team USA for the 2021 FIBA Women's AmeriCup.^[20] During the tournament, she averaged 4.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, to help lead USA to a gold medal.^[21]

Career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game	FG%	Field goal percentage
3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage	RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game
SPG	Steals per game	BPG	Blocks per game	TO	Turnovers per game	PPG	Points per game
Bold	Career high	*	Led Division I	°	Led the league	‡	WNBA record

WNBA

Regular season

Stats current through end of 2024 season

WNBA regular season statistics^[22]

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PPG
2022	Dallas	36	6	15.2	.329	.279	1.000	1.5	1.9	0.9	0.3	1.0	2.6
2023	Dallas	40	13	13.9	.294	.271	.912	1.8	2.2	0.7	0.3	0.4	2.4
2024	Connecticut	31	1	12.6	.361	.351	.838	1.4	1.9	0.5	0.2	0.5	3.1
Career	3 years, 2 teams	107	20	14.0	.326	.297	.913	1.6	2.0	0.7	0.3	0.6	2.7

Playoffs

WNBA playoff statistics

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PPG
2022	Dallas	3	3	28.0	.400	.300	.800	2.7	3.3	2.0°	0.3	2.0	6.3
2023	Dallas	5	0	11.0	.154	.111	.800	1.2	2.2	1.6	0.0	0.2	1.8
2024	Connecticut	7	0	19.3	.323	.231	.846	1.1	1.9	0.6	0.4	0.7	4.9
Career	3 years, 2 teams	15	3	18.3	.305	.219	.826	1.5	2.3	1.2	0.3	0.8	4.1

College

NCAA statistics^[23]

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PPG
2018–19	Northwestern	31	31	32.0	37.7	36.8	85.5	3.9	3.6	2.6	0.4	1.5	8.6
2019–20	Northwestern	30	30	32.0	43.7	32.7	79.3	4.9	5.1	3.3	0.6	2.1	11.6
2020–21	Northwestern	25	24	34.8	39.9	30.7	79.5	5.2	4.9	3.8*	0.4	1.7	16.2
2021–22	Northwestern	29	29	36.5	41.5	32.6	83.3	5.5	6.4	4.0*	0.9	2.1	17.8
Career		115	114	33.7	40.9	33.2	81.7	4.8	5.0	3.4	0.6	1.9	13.4

Personal life

Veronica was born to Steve and Ginni Burton. Her father played quarterback at Northwestern, and is currently a television sports reporter in Boston, while her mother was an All-American and Big Ten Champion in swimming for the Wildcats. Her sisters, Kendall and Kayla also played college basketball, while her brother, Austin, was a quarterback at Purdue. Her grandfather, Ron Burton, played football for Northwestern and the Boston Patriots and is a College Football Hall of Famer.^[2]

References

1. "USA win FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2021 Championship, taking back-to-back gold". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
2. "Veronica Burton". nusports.com. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
3. "2019-20 Big Ten Women's Basketball Honors Announced On BTN". BigTen.org. March 20, 2020. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
4. "2020-21 Big Ten Women's Basketball Honors Announced". BigTen.org. March 8, 2021. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
5. "Burton, Satterwhite, Wood Named 2021-22 Women's Basketball Captains". nusports.com. October 21, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
6. "2021-22 Big Ten Women's Basketball Honors Announced". BigTen.org. March 1, 2022. Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
7. "Northwestern's Burton Named 2022 WBCA NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year". WBCA.org. Women's Basketball Coaches Association. March 28, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
8. "USBWA Names 2021-22 Women's All-America Team". sportswriters.net. March 17, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
9. "Veronica Burton Named AP All-American". nusports.com. March 16, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
10. "WNBA Announces Initial List of Players Renouncing NCAA Eligibility to Opt-In for Consideration for 2022 WNBA Draft". WNBA.com. March 29, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
11. "Veronica Burton Declares for WNBA Draft". nusports.com. March 25, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
12. Costabile, Annie (April 16, 2022). "Veronica Burton is ready to earn her spot on Dallas Wings' deep roster". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
13. Assimakopoulos, Lia (April 18, 2022). "With WNBA draft behind her, Veronica Burton's back in the gym, ready to prove herself with Wings". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
14. "Dallas Wings Waive Veronica Burton". wings.wnba.com. May 12, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
15. "Connecticut Sun Signs Veronica Burton". sun.wnba.com. June 5, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
16. Healy, Emma (June 5, 2024). "Newton's Veronica Burton signs with Connecticut Sun after being cut by Dallas Wings". The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
17. Henderson, Cydney; Horrow, Ellen J. (December 6, 2024). "WNBA expansion draft live updates: Golden State Valkyries pick their players for 2025". USA Today. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
18. "Lublin inks Veronica Burton". www.eurobasket.com. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
19. bendigo (2024-10-08). "Spirit bolster backcourt with WNBA finalist Veronica Burton - Bendigo Spirit". Bendigo Spirit. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
20. "Burton Named to USA AmeriCup Roster". nusports.com. June 6, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
21. "USA Women Claim FIBA AmeriCup Gold with 74-59 Win Over Host Puerto Rico". usab.com. June 20, 2021. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
22. "Veronica Burton WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference.
23. "Veronica Burton College Stats". Sports-Reference. Retrieved April 11, 2024.

External links

• Northwestern Wildcats bio
• Career statistics from WNBA.com  and Basketball Reference