Veronica Burton of Golden State Valkyries Wins WNBA Most Improved Player

When All-Star Kayla Thornton went down with a right knee injury in mid-July, the Golden State Valkyries faced questions about whether they could maintain their postseason pace. Veronica Burton stepped up in a major way, leading the team in nearly every statistical category: points (11.9), assists (6.0), steals (1.1), and blocks (0.6). On Monday, Sept. 15, she was officially named the WNBA Most Improved Player.

Burton’s all-around game is evident, as she joins an elite group of just five players averaging at least 10 points, 5 assists, and 1.5 made 3-pointers per game, alongside Kelsey Plum, Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu, and Skylar Diggins. She is also the only Valkyries player to start all 44 games this season, averaging 29.2 minutes per game—up from just 12.7 minutes with the Connecticut Sun last year. Her scoring average skyrocketed from a previous career high of 3.1 points per game in 2024 to 11.9 this season.

Drafted No. 7 overall by the Dallas Wings in 2022, Burton has long been known for her defensive prowess, earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman at Northwestern. Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase, however, challenged her to expand her offensive game after acquiring her in the expansion draft.

“I challenged her to memorize sets, possessions, and now to recognize certain defenses,” Nakase said in early August. “With that type of openness—‘whatever you need, coach’—every game, I feel like she’s surprising people with her improvement.”

In recognition of her achievement, Burton will receive $5,150 and a trophy as the Kia WNBA Most Improved Player.

The Valkyries, the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in their inaugural season, are currently down 1-0 in the best-of-three opening series against the Minnesota Lynx. They will host Game 2 on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 10 p.m. ET at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, with coverage on ESPN.